Connectivity coming to town ... maybe

At the Kerikeri campus, John Carter, left, Prime Minister John Key and NorthTec chief executive Paul Binney. National's Northland candidate Mark Osborne is centre back. Photo / Lindy Laird

There was slightly more style than substance when Prime Minister John Key and Communications Minister Amy Adams revealed a plan to get Northland pulsing with faster, fatter broadband.

Mobile phone coverage would also be improved, and blackspots done away with, they said.

The buzz words used by Mr Key and Ms Adams were "better connectivity".

It was news that most people at NorthTec's Kerikeri campus yesterday had heard before - last September, in fact. Back then the Government said the UBF roll-out would be extended to smaller towns as well as main centres.

On the Northland byelection campaign trail, where National's candidate Mark Osborne is getting a taste of the hustings, both the senior party politicians played down the deja vu component of the UFB plan. There was now "a strong likelihood" smaller Northland towns - for example, Kerikeri, Kaitaia, Kaikohe and Dargaville - would be among priority locations, Ms Adams said.

Asked to define "likelihood" and give an idea of time frames, Ms Adams said there "was a process and a programme we're keen to advance".

"Cabinet has confirmed the process is now open and we're excited to work with communities, councils and suppliers."

Mr Key said that while the wider roll-out of broadband to more remote regions was announced last year, it is now about furthering the process.

He reiterated that progress relied on strong partnerships between the government, local government authorities, education, health, iwi and business sectors.

In particular, some local governments had made a stronger case than others, Ms Adams said. Far North mayor, John Carter was a good example of a community leader who had pushed for better broadband facilities to help move the district forward, she said.

Mr Carter, a former longstanding National MP for Northland, was in the audience. Ms Adams said improved broadband and phone coverage would be of great advantage to health workers and educators in remote places.

The audience was largely made up of business leaders, health workers, local government authorities, educators and students, sectors that have often lobbied for better services in Northland.