Farmers aim for the clouds - what broadband can offer rural New Zealand
Released 22 Mar 2010
Some of the country's leading broadband visionaries and pioneers are assembling at Federated Farmers in Wellington this week to set an agenda for the future.
"Along with Rod Drury, who is a driving force behind Xero and the Pacific Fibre company, we are staging the most advanced agriculture/technology gathering ever held in New Zealand," says Federated Farmers Chief Executive, Conor English.
"It's part of our three part plan that we believe is vital if New Zealand farming is to remain at the forefront and our rural communities future proofed. There's our joint campaign for cheaper cell phone calls and texts, truly fast rural broadband and thirdly, assisting the development of farm applications that will harness these innovations.
"Our gathering Farming in the Clouds - Rural Online Solutions features an amazing line up of speakers at the cutting edge of rural online developments.
"Our priority of course remains high speed broadband for rural New Zealand - that's the enabler. We need to get the broadband 'pipes' out there through the rural community and the announcement from Government last week on the $300 million rural broadband initiative is a great first step.
"The Federation is focussed on our ability to continue to farm for generations. This is about economic and social transformation so we're looking for useful and efficient tools to assist farm production and productivity and also to improve education, health outcomes and social connections," Mr English concluded.
Rod Drury is also applauding the leadership Federated Farmers is showing not just in securing broadband connectivity to the rural sector but thinking about the applications that will be delivered to drive productivity.
For further information contact:
Conor English, Federated Farmers Chief Executive 04 494 9189, 0274 410 786
