Himatangi in the fast lane

In what cities take for granted, residents of Himatangi have been longing for. High-speed wireless broadband is opening windows to the outside world for the rural beach residents, who have been holding out for the day they could connect to the internet without the delays of dial-up. JESSICA SUTTON reports.

Himatangi Beach has hit the 21st century.

For years, residents have battled for a faster internet connection and in September this year their hard efforts paid off.

Local internet provider Inspire Net jumped to the challenge of building a high-speed wireless servicing the area.

Himatangi residents say when Telecom got word of the Inspire Net's involvement, it chose to follow suit, giving residents the choice of the two internet providers.

The difference between the providers is Inspire Net offers wireless and wi-fi connections, whereas Telecom provides DSL, or digital subscriber line, through the phone line.

There is also a difference in price.

Inspire Net's wireless connection is $17 more expensive than Telecom's cheapest plan, being $39.95 per month.

Inspire Net founder James Watt says since the tower was installed three months ago, it has connected half a dozen Himatangi residents.

The $6000 nine-metre wireless aerial tower took two years and $20,000 to get approval to mount in among council water tanks.

Telecom met the Himatangi Beach Community Committee in November 2008 to discuss telecommunications services at the beach.

Telecom media relations executive Katherine Murphy says from November last year to September this year it had been upgrading the Manawatu core network, which would enable Himatangi and other neighbouring areas access to broadband.

Taking broadband to the "backblocks" has been a priority for Inspire Net since it was set up in 1998.

It has meant local rural businesses and residents have been able to connect to the outside world with speed and without the hassles of using dial-up.

Himatangi Beach business owners say Inspire Net's wireless and wi-fi connection has made a huge difference to the way they run their businesses and hope to see more business-type people coming to the beach village.

Himatangi Beach Holiday Park owner Margaret Penney says in this day and age, whether you like it or not, you have to move with the times and switching to broadband is a fantastic step up for the Himatangi community.

In an effort to provide high-speed broadband to rural residents, Inspire Net plans to build more wireless repeater aerials in rural areas in the near future.

Tararua District has also recently been set up with Inspire Net's high-speed broadband and it is being rolled out in Hunterville, Taihape, Waiouru and the Pohangina Valley.

Beach library goes hi-tech

The library is set to receive a wireless connection in the new year, and librarian Margaret Caldwell says it'll make life a lot easier.

''It'll be helpful to trace who has what books, rather than having to do it by issue cards all the time,'' she says.
Manawatu District Council has  allocated $5253 to provide the library with a new PC and internet connection.

The council's librarian, Simon Johnson, says   having a computer with broadband in Himatangi  allows  the libraries around the district to connect.

''We supply them [Himatangi Beach Library] with books each month, and with a computer we can organise which books to send them via the internet,'' says  Mr Johnson.

He says  the connection is almost ready to go and will be set up in the new year. The computer will also be open for public use.

Smooth running for clinic

Himatangi Beach Health Clinic is now able to answer phone calls and surf the net at the same time.

The clinic has connected to Inspire Net's wireless broadband service and head nurse Wendy Napier says it is great.

``Half the time dial-up didn't work and people used to get so annoyed with us [health clinic], as they couldn't email us anything. ``Now we can connect with other practices and doctors,'' says Mrs Napier.

She says Himatangi had been like living in a past century.

Himatangi Beach Community Trust chairman Brian Rosvell operates the health clinic in Himatangi and Tangimoana.

He says the new internet connection means the clinic can operate smoothly.

``We used to have to switch the phone off in order to use the internet and that was obviously inconvenient.

``Now we have no problems multitasking,'' he says.

Camp owners are excited

Campers this summer will be able to upload their holiday pictures to Facebook and email them around the world, says Himatangi Beach Holiday Park owner Dennis Penney.

Himatangi's award-winning holiday park can now offer holiday makers wireless internet, and Mr Penney and wife Margaret are excited to show off the new pre-pay internet kiosk and wi-fi set-up to the summer campers.

``We have had cancellations over the years because we didn't have a broadband connection.

``Keeping in contact with businesses is a big thing these days,'' says Mrs Penney.

She says they are more than happy to pay the extra for Inspire Net.

``So far we've had no problems and Telecom only jumped in because they saw that Inspire Net was going to do it.

``We pay around $60 a month and that is not expensive by any means,'' says Mrs Penney.

The end-of-month accounts used to take 45 minutes to do, but Mrs Penney says it now takes far less.

- © Fairfax NZ News