Whakatane the twentieth UFB town complete 23 Sep 2016
New Zealand GovernmentHon Amy Adams
Minister for Communications
23
September 2016
Media Statement
Whakatane the
twentieth UFB town complete
The Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) rollout in Whakatane has finished, bringing the number of fully-fibred towns and cities to twenty, Communications Minister Amy Adams has announced.
Nearly 7000 homes and businesses in Whakatane can now connect to UFB and around 19 per cent of those had taken up a service. All eight Whakatane schools have been connected and have joined the Network for Learning.
Total investment between the Government and Chorus in Whakatane is nearly $12 million. The build began in Whakatane in November 2012.
Representatives from telecommunications company Chorus and local leaders in Whakatane joined East Coast MP Anne Tolley to mark the milestone at White Island Tours, a local tourism operator connected to UFB.
Ms Adams said it was business like White Island Tours were the lifeblood of regional economies and UFB was helping them attract customers.
“It’s great to see tourism companies taking up UFB and using it to deliver a world-class visitor experience. Tourism contributes more than $100 million to the Bay of Plenty economy and employs around 10 per cent of the workforce. Better broadband is helping Whakatane and its tourism businesses thrive,” says Ms Adams.
“The challenge for Whakatane is to think about how it’s going to use UFB to transform the future.”
23,000 households and businesses in the wider Bay of Plenty region can also enjoy the benefits of better broadband through the Rural Broadband Initiative.
“While celebrating Whakatane’s build completion, I’m conscious there’s still more to do to improve connectivity throughout the Bay of Plenty,” says Ms Adams.
The Government has set an aspirational target that would see 99 per cent of New Zealanders able to access peak broadband speeds of at least 50 Mbps by 2025.
“In addition to the $1.65 billion funding for the UFB and RBI initiatives, the Government has committed an additional $360 million to extend both programmes to more New Zealanders.”
Media contact: Julian Light 021 243 8528
Whakatane UFB at a
glance:
· 7000 homes and businesses can
connect
· 19% uptake or 1340 connections
· $12 million public-private investment
· Build started in November 2012
· Eight schools able to connect and all connected to the Network for Learning. These are Allandale School, Apanui School, James Street School, St Joseph's Catholic School (Whakatane), Trident High School, Whakatane High School, Whakatane Intermediate, and Whakatane S D A School.
ends
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more