Bridging the gap with rural New Zealand
OPINION: One thing I keep hearing from rural New Zealanders is the importance of relationships. Strong relationships don’t just happen - they take trust, consistency, and time.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says improving connectivity is vital to successful business, health and safety, education and social connection in rural communities.
National President, Fiona Gower, says RWNZ would like to see the Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISP’s) included in the Government’s new rural broadband funding.
“We would also like to see a commitment to improving cellphone coverage in rural New Zealand because with only 50 per cent coverage across New Zealand, it is the rural communities missing out. COVID-19 has highlighted the issue of digital inequity with incredibly slow rural internet speeds and landlines overloading,” she says.
Gower says children now being schooled at home are often struggling to get to their online classes.
“Across the board, self-isolation and restrictions on bubbles mean that it is vital that communities have the tools to connect, at the very least, to maintain mental wellness,” says Ms Gower.
Federated Farmers vice president Andrew Hoggard says surveys conducted by his organisation show there are some large parts of the rural countryside which still have slow, or no, access to the internet.
“The vast majority of New Zealanders living in towns and cities have absolutely no idea how bad internet access still is in some parts of the country,” he says.
Hoggard says Feds surveys show internet speeds for rural users are still likely to make it difficult for them to complete tasks like internet banking, making orders online and using recruitment websites, not to mention the kids being able to do online schooling.
“If government are looking for a shovel-ready project, this would be a good one. The shovels are already in the ground.”
