All local schools now have broadband access

NETWORK COMPLETE: Communications Minister Amy Adams says all Whanganui schools can now connect to fast, reliable broadband.PHOTO/FILE

Communications Minister Amy Adams announced last week that all Whanganui-Manawatu schools are now able to connect to fast and reliable broadband.

"Just in time for the start of term one, Manawatu-Whanganui teachers and around 37,400 students will be able to connect to the information superhighway that is our government-funded broadband network," Ms Adams said.

"We set ourselves a challenge in 2010 to deliver all 190 state and state-integrated schools in Manawatu-Wanganui with better broadband speeds by 2016, which has now been completed on time and within budget."

Nationally, around 782,000 students from almost 2500 schools across New Zealand can now connect under the ultra-fast broadband and rural broadband initiative programmes.

"That accounts for 97 per cent of schools covering 99.7 per cent of students across the country. The remaining 3 per cent covers our most remote schools, and they too have greatly improved access delivered by wireless connections."

Ms Adams says schools were given priority in the rollout and have been leaders in terms of choosing to connect to fast broadband and learning how to make the most of it. The minister said the Government wishes to see young New Zealanders successfully compete on the world stage, no matter where they live.