Norsewood gets its cell tower

The cell tower is finally up in Norsewood which will help improve connectivity in the Tararua District township.

The small Tararua District township of Norsewood finally has a cell tower.

The battle to erect the tower, which would help the issue of a lack of connectivity in the town, 20km north of Dannevirke, had been going on for years.

In September this year, Connect Tararua made a presentation at Tararua District Council’s Community Development and Wellbeing Committee meeting highlighting the problems caused by the lack of connectivity.

Hamish Blyth, from Connect Tararua, was thrilled that the tower had finally been completed.

“Norsewood actually wins out of this solution. Rather than put in a new Spark tower in a better position, we’ve now got one of these towers that’s got all three providers in a better position.”

There was also plenty of excitement from people in Norsewood, particularly those who owned businesses in the town.

Blyth wanted to acknowledge those who had played a part in getting the tower up, including Crown Infrastructure Partners, the Rural Connectivity Group and Tararua District Council, which had backed Connect Tararua.

He also wanted to acknowledge the group’s chairman Tim Poulton and Councillor Alison Franklin.

“Without them in the background being cheerleaders/door openers, it might have been a lot longer, slower battle.”

Local MPs, Mike Butterick and Kieran McAnulty had also played their parts, putting politics aside and “seeing the greater good”, Blyth said.

The new tower, which was expected to go live this week, was seen as a win for the group, although the battle for the rest of the district was far from over.

Blyth said there were certain areas around Pongaroa and Route 52 that would be the group’s focus for up to the next 18 months and they would be working with providers to find solutions for dead spots along the state highway.

Blyth believed the work done by the whole committee of Connect Tararua, as well as those who advocated on their behalf, had put Tararua District on the map.

“We’re in the consciousness,” he said.

“I do see it as a team Tararua effort really.”

Blyth said there were exciting times ahead and was hopeful within the next 18 months there would be progress made on Route 52.

He said it wouldn’t be a continuous connection, but “certainly better than it is now”.

Meantime, he was also in discussions with St John Ambulance about getting in behind Good SAM, the app that alerts trained volunteers when someone nearby is having a medical emergency.

“To make it work, you need connectivity,” Blyth said.

Anyone who was having “specific issues” with their connectivity were welcome to contact him for advice.

“There are lots of solutions out there.”

Hamish Blyth can be contacted on 0224751001.