For decades the copper network has provided reliable and resilient internet services to over a million of rural New Zealanders.
Fast forward to 2026 and the discussions that in order to prioritise improvement to Fibre technology, Chorus seeks to shut down the copper network.
There are a number of unseen pitfalls with this, that consumers need to be aware of in order to make the right choices of what to do next:
Inconvenient Timing
The Copper Withdrawal Code provides for the minimum requirements that Chorus, its provider, must meet before it can stop providing the service. However, the same does not apply to the RSPs (Retail Service Providers), such as OneNZ, 2Degrees, Mercury Energy, Slingshot, etc). These guys can withdraw the service whenever they like, and they are.
Mercury Energy already have withdrawn service, Slingshot are in the process of it and it’s going “down the line” from there.
Email Addresses tied to Providers (RSPs)
For those with Providers such as Slingshot, Mercury Energy and Spark you might have email addresses as part of your copper subscription. These will be tied into your many accounts and logins – power, internet, online ordering accounts such as farm supplies, pet food supplies, groceries, OneDrive, DropBox, Facebook/social media with a very large ETC on the end of that. As part of multifactor authentication, you can be emailed to check it’s you logging into an account or changing a password.
It’s very disruptive to lose your email account, as you WILL MOST LIKELY lose your accounts permanently. It can take eons of planning to avoid this.
Email Addresses tied to Providers (RSPs)
For those with Providers such as Slingshot, Mercury Energy and Spark you might have email addresses as part of your copper subscription. These will be tied into your many accounts and logins – power, internet, online ordering accounts such as farm supplies, pet food supplies, groceries, OneDrive, DropBox, Facebook/social media with a very large ETC on the end of that. As part of multifactor authentication, you can be emailed to check it’s you logging into an account or changing a password.
It’s very disruptive to lose your email account, as you WILL MOST LIKELY lose your accounts permanently. It can take eons of planning to avoid this.
There is no “One Stop Shop” to see your options.
Being able to understand your options, with independent advice and the pros and cons of each option is important. If you move to a technology that doesn’t work as you expect you may have “devils own job” to unpick and change it, potentially facing significant costs as well.
We, at Rural Connect, have certainly been a party to many of these issues.
What to do if your provider is withdrawing your internet Service
If you have received a message from your provider that they are withdrawing your phone, internet or email service and you’ve verified this is NOT a scam:
Act now to plan ahead to avoid disruption or loss of service – you may have no comeback
Assess if this impacts your email address (xtra.co.nz, slingshot.co.nz, Kinect.co.nz – or check with your provider if unsure). This WILL NOT impact the likes of outlook.com or gmail.com emails as these ARE NOT RSP enabled).
Some providers may allow you to keep your old emails address for a cost. Even then you may be stuck usual webmail because of security restrictions will prevent you using apps such as Outlook and Apple Mail, etc.
Methodically go through all your accounts (saved on your computer or phone, or preferably in a password app or book) and change the email address to a new one.
Investigate your connection options
Our recommendations follow:
“Word on the Street” – check with your neighbours / community. Who has moved to what and how well did this go? Is their new technology working for them or if not why not? If a bunch of you need satellite install services, band together to save costs.
Check NZ Broadband Map (NOTE: This DOES NOT include LEO (low earth orbit, or higher performance satellite options, such as Starlink or the soon-to-be available Amazon service the same).
Check what Chorus Says Are you on copper? What is available to you and what might the impact be on your needs?
Be aware of your needs (household and business)
Such as gaming, streaming, WIFI coverage – in house and farm-wide, medical and/or the need for operating with no mains power i.e. with an inverter or generator). Monthly data caps often apply to 4G fixed wireless, and this could be a problem if you stream TV.
Question providers either through their websites, apps, shops or phone as their technology suitability for these needs. Be sure you note and understand their answers. If you do not understand, question again.
If you are on copper (ADSL or VDSL) and do not like your options, you potentially have the option of staying on your current technology by moving providers to Spark (or holding them to it). They have a historical agreement, being originally Telecom, a NZ government owned enterprise. One of the big advantages of copper is that data caps are rare.
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