The Whakatāne District Council has submitted a registration of interest which aims to secure some of the $360 million in government funding available to extend its broadband initiatives and expand mobile coverage. This is now being followed up with the development of a digital enablement plan, which will further highlight the economic and social benefits of better broadband and coordinate plans to maximise the use of digital infrastructure within the District.

Whakatāne District Council Quality and Business Improvements Manager Julian Reweti says he is very grateful to the more than 530 Whakatāne District residents who completed a survey which helped to inform the registration of interest process. “The responses have been hugely valuable, as they have allowed us to gauge what the community’s current connection needs are, and what broadband services they may need in the future.

“The survey findings showed that more than 82 percent of respondents considered their internet connection to be very slow to adequate in terms of speed. For those in rural areas, this applied to more than 91 percent of respondents,” Mr Reweti says. “Interestingly, more than 40 percent of all respondents indicated that they use the Internet to run a business from home, while a further 44 percent of respondents work from home occasionally. Of those who defined their area as ‘rural’, more than 46 percent indicated that they ran a business from home.”

Mr Reweti says there is no question that access to the internet is hugely valuable. “Internet access has removed many of the economic and communications disadvantages that used to apply to life in smaller centres and enabled opportunities similar to those available in the larger population centres.”

The development of the digital enablement plan will involve a series of targeted workshops with stakeholders in the business, rural, iwi and education communities. Council is looking for specific actions our community can take to make sure that once this improved connectivity arrives, it is used to the greatest possible economic, educational and social advantage for the District. Should the Government decide that it will contribute to better broadband services in the Whakatāne District, our community has to show that it has creative plans ready to put it to good use.