Slow internet behind chatterboxes tag

Marlborough's Awatere Valley farmers have hit back at being labelled the country's biggest chatterboxes , saying they are on the phone so long because internet services in the area are poor.

A Telecom survey found that Awatere Valley residents spent an average of nine hours and 29 minutes a month on the phone.

But residents say they use the phone only because they are frustrated with the speed of the internet.

Federated Farmers Marlborough vice-president Richard Bowling said internet services in the area were appalling and most were "sick and tired" of it.

Farmers were making increasing use of technology "and it's disappointing that you can't have the same service as elsewhere but you are paying the same money".

"It's extraordinary that from where we live we can see the lights of Wellington but we can't get broadband."

Telecom confirmed that the Awatere Valley had dial-up rather than high-speed broadband connections.

The company said this was because of the geographical challenge of the area.

- NZPA