West Coast New Zealand

ICT investment and new initiatives

These are exciting times for Internet Communications Technology (ICT) on the West Coast. As a region, we have been very active over the last five years in expanding and improving broadband coverage in our area, now at over 96 percent of lines.  We have also initiated a number of projects based around enabling and promoting the use of ICTs. The West Coast ICT Strategy was developed to coordinate and drive these initiatives.

---

Broadband Coverage

The West Coast Broadband Taskforce is making real in-roads into ICT in our region. It has enabled a further 38 communities to receive broadband, coverage, now at 96 percent of lines.  This has been achieved through a range of technologies including:

• Six new fibre extension projects, the largest being around the rugged coastline from Rapahoe to Punakaiki
• DSLAM installations into cabinets
• A satellite extension project into South Westland enabling 20 business connections 
• A partnership with the Gloriavale Christian Community to extend their wireless network into a remote neighbouring farming valley

More information on how this was achieved
Map of current coverage

The overall goal for the region is to “future proof” it with a fibre backbone.  The next priority is the Fox Glacier to Haast fibre.  This is the focus of the next stages of planning.

Map of the current network and future priorities

---

ICT Uptake Projects

West Coast Partnership with the Digital Strategy                                                                                                                                               

A Community Partnership-funded project is underway to get more Coasters using ICT. The project is achieving its goal through a range of community initiatives including a business and community needs analysis, broadband training, "Build-A-PC" workshops and video conferencing services. For more information on this project go to www.ictwestcoast.ac.nz.

Already the project is making a difference.  The Build-a-PC events in Greymouth, Hokitika, Westport and Reefton, for example, have proved very popular and are attracting increasing numbers of bookings. 

The video conferencing sessions with sports groups began with the West Coast Hockey Association beaming in top New Zealand coach, and SPARC CEO, Peter Miskimmin. This was a huge success and the association is now looking to include video conferencing as part of its development programme.

---

The Education Sector

The West Coast Education ICT Strategy has also been developed. This strategy identifies the need for professional development to enhance student learning, technology support and better infrastructure in many of our schools.

As a result of the strategy, the Education West Coast ICT committee succeeded in an application to the Ministry of Education for Collaborative Innovations Funding. A three-year position to provide support to the sector has also been established. Karoro Learning has been contracted to assist primary and early childhood into ICT while Westnet is providing professional development to the secondary and area schools. Detail of this initiative can be viewed on www.ictwestcoast.ac.nz.  

Development West Coast has also partnered with the Ministry of Education’s School Network Upgrade Project which offered financial support to schools with networks below an established Ministry benchmark. Within this programme the Ministry offered 75 percent of the required funding and Development West Coast contributed 80 percent of the school’s 25 percent share. In total, 19 West Coast schools took advantage of the scheme, with DWC investing approximately $160,000.

West Coast Libraries and the Aotearoa People’s Network

The Buller, Grey and Westland libraries have worked together to advance their technology capabilities. The three district libraries are all involved in the National Library’s People's Network which has seen 18 public access computers installed in the libraries earlier this year.  These have been very popular with usage high at all libraries. As a partnership with the West Coast ICT Uptake project, the libraries are now working together to promote the use of this network much further. This begins with workshops to teach the community how to use programmes on offer, such as Ancestry.com. It plans to advance into development of the West Coast Kete project where the community can digitise information and place it in a West Coast "kete" or "basket" for all to access.  Further details can be found on www.ictwestcoast.ac.nz.

WestREAP Computers in Homes

WestREAP are involved in the Computers in Homes programme across a number of communities. Currently just over 100 families have participated with 65 computers deployed into homes.