Waimarino online week booting up

An initiative to get every business in the Ruapehu region online starts next week. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

A push to get more Waimarino businesses online could see a bump in Government spending on high speed internet infrastructure for the region.

The Ruapehu District Council has organised Loading Ruapehu Week - an initiative to get
all Ruapehu businesses and organisations online.

As part of this drive council set up the week from August 1-5 with a series of social media for business workshops and the release of a video featuring Ruapehu businesses successfully using social media and the internet. There's also the offer of a free hosted web page for all businesses.

Council environmental planner Lauren Gram said the activities were part of the Digital Ennoblement Plan that was submitted to Government in September last year, advocating for Ruapehu to be included in the next round of Government's broadband investment rollout.

"The [plan] needed to show how council would support our communities with getting connected and enable them to reap the benefits of improved internet services" she said.

"The [workshops] are designed to do just this and help give local businesses the practical skills they need to get online and take full advantage of the opportunities and benefits this brings."

The workshops are in National Park on August 3 at The Park and Ohakune on August 4 in the council chambers. Both start at 6.30pm.

The video features a range of sectors promoting enterprises online including rural, iwi, tourism and retail."

"People will be able to see how being online is helping these enterprises to be more effective and successful and hopefully be inspired to do the same."

All Ruapehu businesses and organisations can also have a free hosted web page on Ruapehu's AboutUs website.

"For anyone who isn't yet online, or even if they have their own website, they should take advantage of this opportunity" Ms Gram said.

"AboutUs provides a free online presence along with lots of helpful advice on how to best use the internet to increase sales, reduce costs and grow the bottom line" she said.

More information on Loading Ruapehu Week is at ruapehudc.govt.nz.