Fast, reliable internet is on track to reach even more New Zealanders. The Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, has officially backed a bold proposal from Chorus to expand fibre broadband to 95% of the country — up from the current 87%. That’s a huge step forward for rural communities that have long been left in the digital dust.
This backing, announced alongside the draft National Infrastructure Plan at the Looking Ahead Infrastructure Symposium in Wellington, shows that fibre is now seen as essential for New Zealand, right up there with things like roads, water and electricity.
The numbers stack up too. Independent analysis shows the project could deliver over $17 billion in benefits over the next ten years. It earned a top-tier “green” rating for value, with a standout Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 6.3. That’s significantly better than many traditional infrastructure projects.
Chorus isn’t new to big rollouts. The company says it is fully prepared with the expertise, tools and teams to hit the ground running. It’s already repaying the first $170 million from the original fibre programme, proving that public-private partnerships can work well when done right.
And while the full plan would bring fibre to nearly every corner of Aotearoa, it does not need to happen all at once. Chorus has suggested a staged rollout. This would allow investment to be spread over time while still delivering real-world benefits at every stage.
One red flag in the Commission’s review? The lack of a rural communications strategy. The project was marked down for not aligning with a strategy that currently doesn’t exist. Chorus is calling on the government to fix that and make rural digital access a priority.
With strong support from both the Commission and a proven rollout track record, the message is clear: fibre isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s essential, and it’s time to make sure rural New Zealand gets its fair share.
Fibre is the gold standard when it comes to internet connectivity — fast, reliable, and built for the way Kiwis live and work today. If you haven’t already, it’s worth checking if fibre is available at your address. Plans start from under $60 a month, so it’s more affordable than you might think.
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