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National | Rotorua

Spark and Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru to provide subsidised broadband

A partnership between Spark and education trust Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru will mean subsidised broadband for selected Rotorua families, enabling children to learn online at home.

The Spark Jump initiative aims to ensure New Zealand children can thrive in our modern digital economy. The programme provides a modem and a heavily subsidised wireless broadband connection for families with school-aged children who currently lack broadband at home.

Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru is the fourth organisation to come on board the programme joining The Greater Christchurch Schools Network, Web Access Waikato Trust and 20/20 Trust.

Families who are offered the programme pay a subsidised rate of $15 for 30GB.

Spark will deliver the first modems to Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru in the coming week. Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru will identify and refer families from Rotorua who they deem are eligible for the programme.

The trust’s chairman Leith Comer says, "Access to the internet is important so our tamariki can thrive in future-focused learning environments. Having an internet connection at home will help whanau create learning opportunities and open the door for their kids to the digital world.”

GM Spark Foundation Lynne Le Gros says, "Community groups that share Spark's vision of unleashing potential through learning and technology are critical to the success of Spark Jump. Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru is the right partner in terms of investing in learning opportunities in Rotorua and knowing how Spark Jump can work for local families."

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Rotorua