Hon Simon Bridges
Minister for Communications
7 July 2017
Broadband builds underway in more towns
Communications Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the start of the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) build in Picton, Horotiu,
Thames, Dargaville and One Tree Point, as the extension to the Government’s UFB programme gathers pace.
In January the Government announced an investment of $300 million to extend UFB to another 423,000 New Zealanders across
a further 151 towns.
“Having access to fast and reliable broadband is critical to growing our regional economies and to New Zealand’s
future,” Mr Bridges says
“Over one million New Zealand households and businesses already have access to fibre. Our plan to extend UFB is now
underway in eight towns and areas, with Picton, Horotiu, Thames, Dargaville and One Tree Point starting this month,” Mr
Bridges says.
“Once the UFB build is completed by the end of 2024, approximately 85 per cent of New Zealanders will have access to
speeds of close to 1000 Megabits per second.
“This means more productive businesses, improvements to health care through video-conferencing between doctors,
specialists and patients, and improved access to online resources for students and teachers,” Mr Bridges says.
Further information, including a full list of the towns and other areas that are receiving access to fibre in each
region and an indication of timing for the UFB rollout, is available at www.broadband.govt.nz.
Information on new builds
Picton
In total, the Government is investing around $44 million to deliver UFB to the Nelson and Marlborough region. The build
in Picton will be completed in the second half of 2018, providing 2,208 premises with access to UFB. Blenheim already
has access to UFB and the UFB build in Nelson is 84 per cent complete. Fibre deployment is also planned for Motueka,
Wakefield/Brightwater, Renwick and Ruby Bay, among other areas in the region.
Horotiu and Thames
In total, the Government is investing around $170 million to deliver UFB to the Waikato region. The build in Horotiu and
Thames will be completed in mid-2018, providing 3,304 premises with access to UFB. Cambridge, Hamilton, Te Awamutu,
Taupo and Tokoroa already have access to UFB. Fibre deployment is also planned for Waihi, Morrinsville, Matamata and
Ngaruawahia, among other areas in the region.
Dargaville and One Tree Point
In total, the Government is investing around $60 million to deliver UFB to the Northland region. The build in Dargaville
will be completed in 2019, and One Tree Point in the second half of 2018, providing 2,992 premises with access to UFB.
Whangarei already has access to UFB. Fibre deployment is also planned for Kerikeri, Paihia, Ruakaka and Taipa
Bay-Mangonui, among other areas in the region.
ends