Ministers representing rural communities and emergency management have been in discussions about improving connectivity so that people aren’t cut off during extreme weather events.

Otago Regional Council chair Hilary Calvert wrote to Minister of Rural Communities Mark Patterson in November, following the devastating Spring storm across the lower South Island.

Mobile infrastructure failed in some parts of south, with more than 25,000 homes losing power, some for several days.

The extreme weather event also caused widespread infrastructure failure across the lower South Island, and many communities were without mobile coverage for extended periods after cell towers lost power within hours of the outages. 

Communications and water supplies were also disrupted as backup systems failed, revealing serious weaknesses in regional resilience. 

The impacts were felt most acutely in rural areas, where farms lost power to milking sheds, water pumps, and animal welfare systems. Emergency hubs were established to provide essential services such as showers, charging stations, and laundry facilities while repairs continued. 

Minister Mark Patterson is also a farmer near Lawrence, and witnessed the October storm firsthand. Image: file

The ORC is urging the Government to consider introducing a regulatory minimum standard for cell tower power backup systems, to ensure that networks remain operational for an extended period during emergencies. 

They are also supporting a transition plan, backed by central government funding or incentives, to upgrade existing infrastructure across rural regions. 

Mark responded to Hilary saying he was in the area when the storm hit and saw firsthand the challenges when connectivity is disrupted.

He has written to Minister for Media and Communications Paul Goldsmith to advocate for improvements with rural cell towers, “and the vital role local radio stations play in an emergency.”

Mark is also in regular contact with Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell, to ensure emergency responses take account of rural connectivity needs.

Discussions have also been had with One NZ to discuss how the provider can be more flexible during emergencies, to improve alternative solutions.

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