Editorial: United strategy for wool
OPINION: Wool farmers believe the future of strong wool still holds promise.
PGG Wrightson trade account holders can now pay for broadband via their PGG monthly trade account. This is one effect of a deal between PGG and internet service provider Wireless Nation.
The account holders are also offered specials on their rural broadband and VoIP phone plans.
Wireless Nation’s rural internet service are marketed by PGG Wrightson retail stores and onfarm technical representatives.
“[We’ve extended] our agreement with PGG Wrightson to provide all their trade account holders with access to our high-speed rural broadband solutions,” says technical director Tom Linn. “A fast and reliable internet connection is becoming critical for many farmers and Wireless Nation provides a cost-effective solution no matter where they are in New Zealand.
“We are seeing increasing demand from farmers requiring fast, reliable internet to run their business,” says Shannon Galloway, GM marketing, PGG Wrightson. “Wireless Nation is an innovative company that delivers a great customer experience.”
Wireless Nation says it is determined to bridge the digital divide and provide broadband to even the most far-flung parts of New Zealand. It offers RBI (fixed wireless), satellite broadband and VoIP (phone services over the internet).
The company says its satellite network uses the latest technology and the Optus Satellite, which has “hot” signal strength over New Zealand, is not prone to rain fade and is available “pretty much everywhere in the country”.
It recently doubled its satellite network speeds to a download speed of up to 10Mbps. This is said to be much faster than competing satellite networks and to be comparable to standard city broadband. This gives faster web browsing and downloading of email attachments and allows video streaming in higher quality. The extra speed comes at no extra cost.
Wireless Nation quotes a PGG Wrightson customer, Terence Galuszka, of Wainuioru, as saying “The satellite connection is good and latency is low which has enabled our business to use certain desktop applications we haven’t been able to before.
“The PGG Wrightson deal has helped with the extra data bundle and the carryover data is a life saver.”
Wireless Nation has installers throughout the country.
Tel. 0800 101 143
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay is encouraging farmers and growers to stay up to date with weather warnings and seek support should they need it.
The closure of SH2 Waioweka Gorge could result in significant delays and additional costs for freight customers around the Upper North Island, says Transporting New Zealand.
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General Ray Smith believes there is potential for an increase in dairy farming in New Zealand.
New Zealand's new Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, Horowhenua dairy farmer, company director and former Minister of Agriculture, Nathan Guy says the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India is a good deal for the country.
New figures show dairy farmers are not only holding on to their international workforce, but are also supporting those staff to step into higher-skilled roles on farm.

OPINION: If the hand-wringing, cravat and bow-tie wearing commentariat of a left-leaning persuasion had any influence on global markets, we'd…
OPINION: With Winston Peters playing politics with the PM's Indian FTA, all eyes will be on Labour who have the…