Making rural connections in Northland

Northland's digital connectivity sometimes comes in on a string and a prayer.

Being well-connected has been a theme of workshops on how farming and other rural business's access to broadband and digital technologies increases industry and economic growth.

The final workshop, broken into two sessions, will be on Friday at the Copthorne Hotel, Waitangi, 10am-2pm and 2pm-4pm.

Topics to be covered include:

Increasing access to broadband or other internet-enabling technologies in rural communities to further education, telehealth, and farmers' access to the new technologies they need to stay competitive in the global market.

Strengthening local food systems to support small to medium-sized farming, address food insecurity, support different cultural types of farming, and increase food safety.

Digital inclusion strategies to improve digital literacy and broadband adoption.

Group analysis and modelling for facility, employer network, trainee outreach and recruitment, funding, setting performance metrics, online learning platform, advancement and retention.

Speakers include Robyn Krock, Project Leader, Valley Vision, USA.

Friday's workshop follows one held in Whangārei on Monday about farm connectivity, increasing access to broadband and new technologies, and a digiwork implementation workshop on Tuesday.

Getting Connected is supported by the Digital Enablement Group including Northland Regional Council, Far North District Council, Kaipara District Council, Whangarei District Council, US Department of State, Northland Inc and World Learning.

Organiser Northland Inc is asking people to register for the Friday event: digital@northlandnz.com or ph 09-438 5110.