One of the issues we face in rural New Zealand is connectivity which is vital to our farming businesses in a digital world.
As farmers we are often disadvantaged because of our remoteness: roading, sewage, rubbish, cellphone coverage, and increased cost of running a business.
At this month's Northland Federated Farmers executive meeting, we invited chief executive Graham Dawson and Steve McMillan from Northpower to speak on their 'Bridging the Digital Divide' proposal to get UFB to rural Northland.
Northpower's plan is to run a fibre cable one metre below the existing 11,000-volt power lines. This would lead to remote Northland farms having access to ultra fast broadband (UFB).
The proposal is not without challenges. To add the fibre cables to the existing power lines Northpower would need easements from every affected property owner or have law changes passed through central government.