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Nelson Marlborough Inforegion

The Nelson Marlborough Inforegion (NMi) is a joint venture between the Nelson Regional EDA and the Marlborough Regional Development Trust.

The core focus of this joint venture is to bring together key top of the south information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives for the benefit of all three regions, Nelson/Tasman and Marlborough.

Infrastructure providers Network Tasman Limited have rolled out the fibre optic cable network across Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough. The Pacific.net delivered Project Probe to the outlying areas of the three regions with a wireless solution, we are now bringing together key service providers to use the networks.

An important first step is the development of an ICT Strategy, including an ICT Atlas, for the top of the south. While this strategy is being developed NMi is working with The LOOP (a project providing broadband based resources for schools), the three local authorities who are building a metropolitan network that will house various layers of regional information and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) who have campuses in all three regions.

NMi is a great example of the outcomes the Government is trying to achieve with its recently announced (June 05) Digital Strategy and we are working closely with a number of Government agencies that are supporting the NMi initiatives.

Broadband Challenge Project

The Nelson Regional EDA entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) to project

manage an extension of the existing fibre network to more effectively link the major population centres in the

Te Tau Ihu region and extend the existing network within these population centres.

The project was broken into two task components, Principle and Secondary Tasks. The MED stated that on the

basis principle tasks were achieved efficiently and to the satisfaction of the MED, any excess funding will be applied

to secondary tasks.

The EDA has met its Broadband Challenge project obligations with the MED in terms of commissioning an internet

exchange and extending Network Tasman Limited’s fibre network. Effective and efficient project management has

seen the completion of the secondary tasks. Although the project has been completed, the EDA continues to work

with regional stakeholders to improve connectivity.

Principally the tasks outlined in the MED contract were to:

Principle Tasks	Description	Completion
1	Place order for required fibre	Complete
	Central Nelson fibre extensions completed	Complete
	Internet exchange operating company business model confirmed	Complete
	Internet exchange operating company RFP issued.	Complete
2	Motueka Fibre Extension completed	Complete
3	Central Blenheim Fibre extensions completed	Complete
4	Blenheim to Picton fibre route completed	Complete
5	Nelson Internet exchange commissioned	Complete
Secondary Tasks	Description	Completion
6	Complete Picton to Queen Charlotte College fibre extension	Complete
7	Complete Charlotte College to Waikawa extension	Complete