High-speed internet for Tapawera

Tapawera residents are enjoying faster internet connections following a team effort from the school and wider community.

The slow internet speed in the town had been a common topic of conservation.

The speed made internet banking virtually impossible, and residents couldn’t make video calls.

Tapawera Area School principal Kelvin Woodley discussed the issue with residents and business owners at regular meetings.

He was keen to find out how the school’s resources could benefit the community.

Thanks to a collaborative effort from local community members and donors, and funding from the Fonterra Grass Roots Fund, a series of radio towers have been installed around the district, making the school’s high-speed fibre connection available to the community.

‘‘The Fonterra Grass Roots Fund has contributed to the cost of the towers, keeping the cost down for the community,’’ Woodley said.

The towers are owned by the community, and an independent company maintains the network, and installs the modems and aerials homes and businesses need to access ultra-fast broadband.

Woodley said it was important internet access was made available to the community at a reasonable price, and he was pleased the monthly fee was comparable to other parts of the country.

‘‘The Board of Trustees and I very much agree that the school is a community resource and we want to maximise the opportunities we can provide.This is part of that,’’ he says.

Each year, the Fonterra Grass Roots Fund helps up to 300 groups in New Zealand, supporting community initiatives through grants to, schools and educational groups, charities, sports clubs and local emergency services.

‘‘It is our way of saying thank you to everyone who works so hard to make our communities great,’’ Fonterra’s Global Sponsorship Manager Kane Silcock said.