Gigatown competition leads to new partnerships

Fresh from the demanding first round of the Gigatown competition, Nelson is now gearing up for the final which ends in November. The finalists, which also include Wanaka, Timaru, Dunedin and Gisborne, are expected to submit a winning digital strategy for their town. Nelson is already on track, with people and organisations across the community actively involved, and now in partnership with Porirua.

Matt Dodd, the Nelson campaign co-leader, says ‘one of the things the community has to do is show how the winning town will use high speed fibre to support growth in other regions. Porirua showed they have real tenacity and the will to succeed during the last round, trading us point for point right down to the wire. So we decided to approach them about partnering us on the strategy if we made it through to the final.’

The end result is that two people will now be representing Nelson on the trip to Chattanooga organised by Chorus as part of the competition. Accompanying Matt Dodd will be Chris Lipscombe, Porirua’s Gigatown campaign manager. Chris says ‘if Porirua can’t be in the final we want to contribute to a digital strategy which will really deliver benefits for central New Zealand. It’s great to have this opportunity to learn what having gigafibre has done for Chattanooga and work with Nelson to win the Gigatown competition.’

Porirua residents are rallying to the call and switching their support by signing up for Nelson. With support also confirmed from Gigatown Richmond, and conversations under way with Blenheim supporters, this means that a central New Zealand collaboration is well on its way.

To help Nelson win the final, go to www.gigatown.co.nz, sign up and choose Nelson as your town. Then do the quiz on the Gigatown website and post using the #gigatownnelson or #gigatownnsn hash tag on our facebook page (www.facebook.com/gigatownnelson) or on twitter or Instagram.

If you would like more information or can help with the campaign/offer sponsorship, please email info@gigatownnelson.co.nz.

Background:
The competition to find New Zealand’s most active town online started last October. The final five towns are competing for three year’s cheap access to giga fibre (available to homes and businesses connected to the new fibre network being rolled out by Chorus) as well as a $500,000 community fund and a $200,000 innovation fund. The competition ends in November.

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