Northland news in brief

Internet speeds between Whangārei and Auckland are set to get faster after a deal between network operator Taitokerau Fibre Networks and technology provider Kordia.

Taitokerau chooses Kordia

Iwi-owned fibre network operator Taitokerau Fibre Networks (TFN) has selected technology provider Kordia to upgrade its connectivity between Auckland and Whangārei.
Kordia will implement carrier-grade dense wavelength division multiplexing on Taitokerau's fibre assets that connect the two cities, substantially boosting the capacity and increasing performance.

TFN is a telecommunications provider that owns and operates a backhaul fibre optic cable. It is 80 per cent owned by Te Tai Tokerau iwi Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whātua and Whāingaroa and 20 per cent owned by Southpark Utilities. Kordia said the equipment being introduced has the potential to deliver up to 4Tbit/s of data - almost 50 times the existing network capacity.

Rahui retention bid

Local hapu, Fish Forever and other marine conservation and recreational dive groups want to keep a rahui alive at Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove) in the Bay of Islands. Ngati Kuta and Patukeha hapu were the main drivers of the fishing ban put in place in 2010 to give depleted fish stocks a chance to recover.

The area has become a popular place to snorkel, and is notable for many fish varieties. The 1.6 km square no-take area is the only one in the Bay of Islands, and represents only 0.5 per cent of the Bay's waters. The rahui expires in October and the hapu has asked Fisheries NZ, under Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), to extend it for two years. MPI has called for submissions to be made on the subject until June 11.

Scholarships double

Four Ngāpuhi students studying at the Victoria University of Wellington have had their education scholarships doubled, thanks to a funding partnership between the university and Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi.

The partnership means an applicant of a Ngāpuhi Tertiary Education Scholarship can be eligible for a 100 per cent increase, with Victoria University matching the scholarship dollar for dollar. Since 2009 the rūnanga has awarded more than $840,000 to Ngāpuhi studying towards certificates, diplomas, bachelors, masters and doctorates. This year, 70 scholarships were awarded, including four PhD and five Masters students.

Debut album released

Waipu teen thrash-metal band Alien Weaponry's debut album, Tū, will be released worldwide on Friday, with New Zealand fans being the first able to purchase it in stores and through digital channels from midnight. Tū can be pre-ordered online through Napalm Records.

CDs and vinyl will also be available in New Zealand through JB Hi-Fi, Marbecks, Real Groovy, Mighty Ape, The Warehouse and other record outlets. For more info visit: www.alienweaponry.com; www.facebook.com/alienweaponry; www.napalmrecords.com; www.facebook.com/napalmrecords.