World cup for rural connectivity
- : Wireless Internet Service Providers Association of NZ
- :
Saturday’s Rugby World Cup experience shows that New Zealand deserves a Broadband World Cup for getting broadband to its rural communities.
That’s the view of WISPA.NZ, the industry group supporting 28 Wireless Internet Service Providers who collectively provide broadband to an estimated 70,000 mostly rural customers.
“The great news is that WISPs dealt with the surge in traffic almost faultlessly,” WISPA Chairman Mike Smith said. “The problems were with the international link, and with some customer devices. But the part in between worked to perfection.
“WISPs can claim a lot of credit for bringing rural Kiwis in from the broadband boondocks. Tens of thousands of rural homes and businesses now have broadband at city speeds and city prices, with the number increasing daily.
“That’s something we wouldn’t have dreamed of a decade ago. Rural communities in New Zealand have far better broadband than most other Rugby World Cup countries, notably Australia.
“WISPs are committed to finishing the job, with government support, so every rural home and business can enjoy the benefits for social inclusion, entertainment and business. Connectivity to 100% of the community is within our sights.”
ENDS
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BACKGROUND NOTES
· – Most WISPs, or regional telecommunications companies, are locally owned businesses founded in the early 2000s.
· – Initially they used their own capital, but in recent times 17 of them have received government funding through the Rural Broadband Initiative to expand their networks into remote areas that would otherwise be uneconomic.
· – About half WISP connections use “WISP Wireless” – a series of hilltop towers with radios that bounce the Internet signal from one to another, then down to the homes below. The other half are re-sold services from other telcos.
· – WISP wireless requires line of sight visibility. Hence it requires many more towers than cellular services, but these are much lower cost.
- : Mike Smith
- : Chairman
- : mike@ubb.nz
- : 0274503504
- : https://wispa.nz
TPC Labour campaign targets light rail and water
- : TPC Labour Christchurch
- : 01/09/2019
Two massive issues the People’s Choice-Labour campaign intends to focus on for the 2019 local body elections are water quality and transport, People’s Choice chair Keir Leslie said today.
The People’s Choice-Labour campaign launch on August 31 heard plans for light rail and People’s Choice Candidates also made water a priority issue.
“The People’s Choice campaign is totally committed to pushing light rail,” said Mr Leslie.
“To future proof Christchurch for climate change it is necessary to go back and look at the options of a light rail network.
”We need light rail from Hornby to Riccarton running into the central city. Light rail also needs to extend to Papanui and the trains need to be integrated with bus services.
”Long term this network needs to extend down Colombo St to Cashmere and also take in important hubs such as the University and Linwood.
”A light rail system may not happen immediately but Christchurch needs to start planning and preparing now,” said Mr Leslie.
The People’s Choice campaign launch also served as an opportunity for People’s Choice Environment Canterbury candidate Jenny Hughes to highlight that water quality is a top priority for all the People’s Choice Environment Canterbury candidates.
”The People’s Choice candidates are offering a group of strong candidates dedicated to saving our water and upholding democracy – a task which no independent candidates can promise,” Jenny Hughes said.
For copies of the speeches, or photographs from the People’s Choice campaign launch please feel free to contact:
The People’s Choice chair, Keir Leslie – (027) 309 3322
Media Advisor, Kevin List – (021) 426 902
Authorised by Jake McLellan 6 Braddon St, Addington.
- : Kevin List
- : Media Advisor
- : Kevinlist145@gmail.com
- : 021426902
- : http://www.peopleschoice.org.nz
PM backs youth and diversity in Christchurch local govt campaign
- : The Peoples Choice-Labour
- : 31/08/2019 13:00
Peoples Choice-Labour campaign launch, Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, 288 Oxford Terrace Christchurch, 1:00pm 31 August 2019.
The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is backing diversity and youth with the People’s Choice-Labour Local Government campaign, People’s Choice chair Keir Leslie said today.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today released a short video backing the People’s Choice-Labour local government campaign. The Prime Minister highlighted the fact that the Christchurch People’s Choice Labour campaign involves two under 30 candidates standing for Christchurch City Council seats. Jake Mclellan (27) is standing for the Christchurch central seat while Zahra Hussaini (28) is standing for the Waimari Council seat.
“The People’s Choice-Labour campaign not only has a wide range of candidates from diverse backgrounds but is also backing younger candidates,” said Mr Leslie.
“We have two candidates under 30 standing for winnable city council seats.
“Jake McLellan has already served three years on a community board and brings a passion for local Government and a desire to tackle the big issues such as climate change, social inequity and water issues.
“Zahra Hussaini is another great candidate. Ms Hussaini is a Muslim, a Farsi interpreter, and has a huge interest in tackling ecological and climate change issues.
“Ms Hussaini is both committed to bringing Christchurch’s diverse communities together to facilitate positive change and also looking at ways to future proof our city for the challenges faced by a changing climate.
“We believe that The People’s Choice and Labour 2019 Local Government campaign is the most -diverse and inclusive local body campaign in New Zealand history,” Mr Leslie said.
“Gathered in the heart of Christchurch on the last day of August are candidates that represent many different faiths and ethnic backgrounds but with one common purpose. That purpose is bringing Christchurch together.
“Our candidates are committed to working together for the good of the people of Christchurch. O ur priorities are clean water, tackling climate change and keeping the city’s assets in public ownership.”
For more information:
Keir Leslie, Peoples Choice Labour Chair – (027) 309 3322
Kevin List, Media advisor – (021) 426 902
Jake McLellan – (027) 844 0296
Zahra Hussaini – (021) 118 4042
Authorised by Jake McLellan, 6 Braddon St, Addington, Christchurch.
ENDS
- Zahra Jake Full length one
- : Kevin List
- : Media advisor
- : Kevinlist145@gmail.com
- : 021426902
- : https://www.metropol.co.nz/tag/zahra-hussaini/
- https://www.facebook.com/Zahr4h/
TPC-Labour Local Government Campaign Launch – Media Advisory
- : The Peoples Choice-Labour
- : 27/08/2019
What: The launch of The People’s Choice – Labour Christchurch local government campaign.
Who: More than 30 Christchurch TPC-Labour Community Board, Environment Canterbury and Christchurch City Council candidates will be gathered together to kick-start the most diverse local government campaign in New Zealand’s history.
When: Saturday, August 31, 1:00pm.
Where: Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, 288 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch.
“We believe that The People’s Choice and Labour 2019 Local Government campaign is the most -diverse and inclusive local body campaign in New Zealand history,” says Keir Leslie, The Peoples Choice Labour chair.
“Gathered in the heart of Christchurch on the last day of August are candidates that represent many different faiths and ethnic backgrounds but with one common purpose. That purpose is bringing Christchurch together.
“Our candidates are committed to working together for the good of the people of Christchurch.
“Our priorities are clean water, tackling climate change and keeping the city’s assets in public ownership.”
For more information or to speak with any of our candidates prior or post the TPC campaign launch:
Kevin List – Media advisor (021) 426 902
ENDS
- Selection outcomes as at 19th May-3
- : Kevin List
- : Media advisor - TPC campaign
- : Kevinlist145@gmail.com
- : 021426902
- : http://www.peopleschoice.org.nz
Beware the Risk 5G Poses to Rural Internet Users
- : WISPA.NZ
- : 02/08/2019
Despite the hype surrounding Vodafone’s launch of the next cellphone technology, it risks a serious downside to thousands of rural broadband users, according to the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA.NZ).
“Vodafone and its competitors are putting huge pressure on Government to reallocate radio spectrum so they can run 5G more cost-effectively,” WISPA Chairman Mike Smith says.
“However, some of the spectrum the mobile companies are trying to claim is already used commercially by about 30 regional WISPs, who collectively service many tens of thousands of rural customers. These customers are farms who use the Internet for business management, rural kids who use it for study, and rural people who depend on it for social inclusion. Most cant get Internet any other way.
“If the government responds to the cellphone companies’ land grab, some of those users could face more expensive Internet or even lose their hard-won connectivity altogether.
“The advantages of 5G are very much in the future. By contrast, WISPs are solving the connectivity issue for rural New Zealand here and now.
“It makes no sense to slow or reverse the progress made in connecting our major export sector, just so that some online games will work a nanosecond faster or city people can connect their home air conditioning to their car GPS. The benefits of 5G are marginal and futuristic, but basic connectivity for rural families and businesses is here, now, and economically essential.
“WISPA seeks a clear assurance from Minister Faafoi that no decision will be made to reallocate spectrum until the issues have been thoroughly aired in public.”
ENDS
Contact: Mike Smith 0274503504 mike@ubb.nz
Alternative: Ernie Newman 0223764363 ernie.newman@wispa.nz
- : Mike Smith
- : Chairman
- : mike@ubb.nz
- : 0274503503
- : https://wispa.nz
NewzEngine makes public relations support accessible and affordable for all
- : NewzEngine.com
- : 03/07/2019
NewzEngine.com, an online service that enables companies, organisations and individuals to write and distribute media releases, has been launched today.
The subscriber-based service provides an easy way for NewzEngine’s customers to create regular, cost-effective, and professional communications about their activities, products and services.
Media releases are created through NewzEngine’s platform, then quality-checked by experienced editors, distributed to a network of journalists/editors, and listed by global information aggregators.
NewzEngine is created by Newztec Developments Ltd directors Selwyn Manning and Sarah Putt, who between them have over 40 years media and communications’ experience. Manning’s career includes roles as a journalist, editor, New Zealand Government press secretary, and news media specialist. Putt has worked as a journalist, public relations specialist and technology commentator.
Manning says: “Organisations and companies require a public profile to grow. Their voice is a valuable complement to the national debate. But reliable media relations support is often expensive and beyond the reach of many.”
“We have launched NewzEngine to help organisations pitch their news to targeted media, and, through syndication and aggregation, supercharge their message so it can reach an audience wider than they thought possible.”
To ensure their message reaches the desired audience, subscribers can select the geographical location and/or sector where they want their media announcement to be delivered within New Zealand.
NewzEngine’s online service includes a guide to writing media announcements, as well as media release templates. This ensures subscribers can create an effective and professional release. In addition to text-based releases, NewzEngine provides the ability for subscribers to upload photographs and video links to accompany their message.
Putt says: “Effective announcements are short, sharp and compelling. Our guide is designed to help subscribers inform professional media practitioners about their organisation’s new product, service, event or milestone achievement.”
“But when required, NewzEngine also provides a writing and media relations service,” Putt says.
Organisations can subscribe to NewzEngine as a monthly or annual service, starting from $70 per month. For more details, visit NewzEngine.com.
- : Sarah Putt
- : NewzEngine CEO
- : sarah@newzengine.com
- : 0276177235
- : https://NewzEngine.com