Roughly two in three farmers can no longer reliably call 111 from their properties following the shutdown of 3G mobile networks, according to a rural connectivity report released this month by Federated Farmers.
Federated Farmers Survey Reveals Widespread Coverage Gaps
The survey of 641 farmers, conducted between August and September, found that about 50 percent of farms now have mobile coverage across less than half of their property. Only 35 percent of respondents reported being able to reliably call 111 from most places on their land. This marks a sharp decline from a September 2025 survey conducted while 3G was still active, which showed only 38 percent of farms experienced mobile coverage issues.
Federated Farmers telecommunications spokesperson Mark Hooper noted that this year’s findings paint an even bleaker picture for rural connectivity. Some respondents reported having nowhere on their farm to make emergency calls. In Wairarapa, nine out of 20 survey respondents had mobile coverage on less than half their farm, while 12 of 17 answering respondents could not rely on reaching 111 from most of their property.
Did You Know? The mobile network was officially shut down at the end of March following a phased disconnection starting at the end of 2025, as telecommunications providers transitioned to newer 4G and 5G networks.
Safety Risks and Emergency Concerns on Rural Properties
Farmers across the country highlighted the severe safety risks posed by dropped calls and persistent dead zones. One meat and wool farmer from Manawatū-Whanganui reported that her husband was recently trapped under a bike for four hours on their property. Because reliable coverage does not extend across the entire farm, the household had to purchase a smart watch capable of placing emergency calls.
Another local respondent described the lack of coverage in places like houses, isolated sheds, and areas where heavy machinery is operated as very dangerous. In the Wairarapa region, farmers identified stretches of regular travel routes with zero reliable coverage, including State Highway 2 between Masterton and Carterton, State Highway 53 between Martinborough and Featherston, and rural roads around Carterton and Cape Palliser.
Local leaders report worsening rural mobile coverage
Manawatū District Council rural ward councillor Alison Short stated that rural mobile coverage has gone backwards since the low-frequency 3G network was lost. Short reported facing consistent poor coverage and complete blind spots on her home farm just north of Halcombe. Mayor Michael Ford similarly described poor phone coverage at his property as typical for Colyton and surrounding areas.
To combat communication failures, the Manawatū District Council maintains a digital radio network linking 20 rural schools and community hubs, which are tested weekly. However, February’s extreme storm demonstrated that many local 20-meter cell towers had only 12 hours of battery backup, leaving residents without coverage during road closures and severe weather. NZ Telecommunications Forum chief executive Paul Brislen maintained that no one should experience issues reaching 111 and urged affected farmers to report specific problems directly to their telco.
Farmers invest in private workarounds amid funding challenges
Strengthening rural infrastructure remains financially difficult for local authorities. As the Manawatū District Council enters a four percent rates capping environment, funding additional connectivity initiatives through rates alone will prove challenging, though officials plan to seek alternative funding sources. Meanwhile, farmers continue investing heavily in private workarounds, with two in three having paid for solutions like satellite broadband, even though only 15 percent consider satellite-to-mobile an adequate substitute for traditional cell towers.
Survey reveals farmer struggles following network shutdown
When did the 3G network shutdown take place?
The mobile network was officially shut down at the end of March following a phased disconnection that began at the end of 2025.
How many farmers participated in the Federated Farmers survey?
Federated Farmers surveyed 641 farmers nationwide between August 17 and September 10 to understand the impact of losing the 3G network.
What percentage of farmers can reliably call 111 from most places on their farms?
Only 35 percent of respondents in the latest report indicated they could reliably call 111 from most places on their property.
How has the loss of 3G coverage affected daily operations and safety on your property?