Cell phone coverage makes it to Minginui

Minginui now has cell phone coverage. Photo/Getty Images

Cell phone coverage has arrived in Minginui, Te Whaiti, the Minginui nursery and surrounding areas within 1km of clear sight.

Vodafone Sure Signal technology has been deployed and boosted by Wi-Fi Connect.

Crown/Maori Relations Minister Meka Whaitiri announced the area would get cell phone coverage, during a visit in March, as part of the Provincial Growth Fund money that Ngāti Whare Holdings received.

A Wi-Fi Connect director, Ivan Lomax, said there would be some fine tuning to do, but anyone with a Vodafone account in those areas should be able to use their cell phone as they do in other areas with coverage.

Mere George, general manager for Ngāti Whare Group Holdings, said it was important to find the most cost-effective way of achieving cell phone coverage.

"Combined with the options we have for fast internet connection, we now have vital communications access for the area," she said

"This is good for family and friends to be able to communicate easily, to access vital services and to do business.

"Ngāti Whare is grateful to Ministers Whaitiri and Shane Jones for listening to our case and agreeing that our people needed to have the same communications capabilities the majority of New Zealanders just consider an everyday part of their lives."