TUANZ Media Release: High quality connectivity remains critical to our rural future

12th June 2018

With National Fieldays only a day away, TUANZ has today reiterated the importance of a maintained focus on continued improvement to connectivity in rural New Zealand.

“While last week’s news that the Government has successfully brought forward the completion date of the latest round of the rural broadband initiative is welcome, we have yet to see the detail around what will be delivered and by when,” said Craig Young, CEO.

“Technology continues to develop at a fast pace and developments in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT) provide tremendous opportunities for rural NZ in improving farm productivity, compliance and general lifestyle improvements. I expect a wide range of IoT to be on display at Fieldays, and the need for improved connectivity to be a discussion point.”

To ensure sustained pressure on the Government and its rural broadband initiative partners, TUANZ is again hosting its annual Rural Connectivity Symposium, to take place on 26 June at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

The event will bring together representatives from agriculture, telecommunications and finance industries with rural end users and rural leaders of the future to discuss the current capability and future potential of connectivity in rural New Zealand.

Craig Young says the day will provide the opportunity to hear from and engage with a range of speakers and industry experts about how connectivity driven digital technology can improve outcomes for rural healthcare, business and day to day life.

Attendees will be actively involved during the symposium, with three workshop sessions, and panel discussions throughout the day. The partners will also publish a post-symposium summary of the major themes from the day, both for distribution to attendees and to help shape the thinking of internet providers and government policy makers.

This year’s Symposium is presented by TUANZ in partnership with Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (RHAANZ), Rural Women NZ, Dairy Women’s Network, NZ Young Farmers and Federated Farmers NZ.

TUANZ is also pleased to welcome the Minister for Communications, Hon Clare Curran, who will speak on behalf of the Government in a guest address.

If you are interested in helping rural communities be part of the 21st century in New Zealand, you can register to attend on the TUANZ website.

The symposium is on Tuesday 26th June from 9am–5pm, at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, and will be followed by networking drinks. Registration costs $169 for TUANZ, RHAANZ, Rural Women NZ, Dairy Women’s Network, Federated Farmers NZ and NZYF members, or $369 for non-members.

ENDS

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TUANZ has over thirty years of bringing the users of ICT into the debate about the future of the digital economy. Much of what we take for granted today around choice of service comes from the work we, with our members, have done and continue to do.

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