Free WiFi Hits Great Lake Taupo

Free WiFi is now available throughout Taupo’s town centre after the launch of a free wireless service. The wireless internet is being funded by T>Stream, an internet provider owned by the Tuaropaki Trust, and is being supported by Taupo District Council, Destination Great Lake Taupo, Towncentre Taupo and local business owners.

The announcement was made at a Business After 5 function last week. The free T>Stream WiFi can be accessed from most of the Taupo CBD and popular recreational areas including the lake front, marina, Owen Delany and Crown Park and at this stage there is no limit to the amount of data used.

Taupo District Mayor David Trewavas said the new service would be a fantastic asset for the town and wider district. “To be able to freely use WiFi in the central business district will enable many people to stay longer in town and remain connected,” he said.

Mr Trewavas said free WiFi hot spots in most other district’s town centres were funded by ratepayers, so it was great the Tuaropaki Trust was supplying it for free to help support the town. “As a council, we worked closely with Tuaropaki, local businesses and other interested parties to get this service up and running, so we’re thrilled it is all happening,” he said.

Locally based Tuaropaki said it was providing the service as a contribution to the ongoing development of “the thriving community of Taupo”. Tuaropaki Trust Chief Executive Steven Murray said connectivity to the internet and the world was now part of everyday life. “We believe providing free internet access around Taupo is good for tourism and local residents,” he said.

Destination Great Lake Taupo General Manager Damian Coutts said a team effort had enabled the free WiFi, which was introduced to encourage both visitors and residents to stay in town and increase the amount they are spending.

Mr Coutts said the free service was great news for the district’s tourism sector, which thrived on social media marketing. “Tourists and visitors to the district can now instantly upload and share photos, stories and travel tips about their time in Great Lake Taupo with people around the world, so this is helping to get our district even better exposure,” he said. “Free WiFi is available in many overseas destinations and is widely expected by international travellers, so it’s positive to see Taupo keeping up with other popular destination markets.”

Tuaropaki is currently talking to other building owners for the next six town centre locations and has plans to expand to more remote sites like Huka Falls in the future.

Users can log in to the service by searching for the ‘free T-Stream Taupo’ network and can be online for an hour before having to log in again. There are 15 free WiFi sites now available throughout Taupo, with more in the pipeline, including Huka Falls. A full list of these sites is available at www.greatlaketaupo.com.