Selling ultra fast to Northland

Northland Inc has hired a wi-fi high flyer to talk-up ultra-fast broadband (UFB) to Northland businesses.

Whangarei is to be the first city in New Zealand to be fully UFB-wired.

The Northland Regional Council's economic development agency has hired a digital strategist, former global film industry marketer, now Opua resident, Mike Preece to sell the advantages of UFB to the region's businesses.

Mr Preece has been hired on an initial six-month contract. As part of the role, he will work closely with Northland Chamber of Commerce, Northpower Fibre and the Whangarei District Council.

His long United Kingdom-based career in the film industry ended 10 years ago when Universal Pictures - where he was senior vice president of licensed distribution - was sold. He was responsible for and had developed markets such as Russia, Indonesia, Croatia, Turkey, China, India and Central America.

Mr Preece made a lifestyle move to New Zealand in 2004 and has since been involved in the hospitality industry, and worked as a conference organiser and a business mentor.

He sits on the advisory board of hi-tech, start-up business Parrot Analytics.

Mr Preece said he is looking forward to his Northland Inc role and its associated challenges.

He hopes to see Northland with high-quality fibre which is easy to connect to, accessible to all and built and operated to world class standard.

"I'm aiming to work with retail providers of UFB and Northpower Fibre to generate and promote interest in the early connectivity and bottom-line benefits of adopting ultra-fast broadband technology."

Mr Preece will work across a variety of sectors to promote, educate and help deliver digital technology solutions that can add value, cut costs and increase businesses' competitiveness.

"As Whangarei will be the first city in New Zealand with the infrastructure in place to roll out UFB, my initial focus needs to be primarily geared to localised businesses, but will eventually extend to other parts of the region.

"I'm also keen to see Northland and Whangarei promoted as areas which encourage and welcome hi-tech-focused business opportunities."

In a press release Northland Inc's executive chairman Colin Mitten said he is pleased to have secured someone of Mr Preece's calibre for the new role.