Local community wants to get rid of phone booth, what's the process?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Local community wants to get rid of phone booth, what's the process?

cyril7

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#319176 30-Mar-2025 17:06

Hi, I am associated without local community rate payer's association, and have been tasked with sorting the removal of a now unwanted and rarely used phone booth.

This is parked outside our local 4Square and most interactions with it seems to be vandalism rather than making important phone calls. It does sport a Ruckus WiFi AP, but a survey of locals say they prefer to use the foodstuffs guest wifi and most have no idea about the Spark service although if Spark mobile customers they probably connect without knowing.

Regardless the real-estate the booth takes is no longer what the community wants and they have other plans for that real-estate, so have asked it is removed.

Can anyone point me in the direction of how to go about setting the removal in action.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Cheers

Cyril

nztim

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#3358778 30-Mar-2025 17:17

*watching with interest*

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Goosey

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#3358783 30-Mar-2025 17:25

You talk to Spark.

Spark would tell you who and when its used. The internet tells me since 2022 they were reviewing sites.

But, in an emergency these payphone sites are super popular for people to get "WiFi".

I remember friends during ChCh EQ's would talk about walking down to the local phone box to get WiFi during power outages etc etc.

Ive seen different designs of these payphones... a few full metal sided ones (so the problem with glass breaking is eliminated).

What about moving the phone somewhere else?

Edit: would be eaiser to task this with your local community board, then they can handle the paperwork with Spark etc. (thinking about easements on council lands etc etc )

cyril7

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#3358785 30-Mar-2025 17:40

Hi, yes I know we need to talk to Spark, just thought there might be a per here that could direct me to a person of interest rather than wade through a soulless AVR.

We have thought through the Emergency related issues that supports having a phone available, but are also aware of many other options these days, that said the 4Square is happy to host the Ruckus AP , even a wall mounted phone in the front veranda.

Cyril

Wheelbarrow01

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#3358811 30-Mar-2025 21:18

If you flick me your contact information in a private message along with details of the payphone in question (location etc), I am happy to pass your message on to the right people at Spark and request that they make contact with you.

Is the payphone currently functional? If it's in a state of disrepair or has been vandalised, a photo of it would also help.

While what you seek may seem simple on the face of it, there are a number of factors that need to be considered. I can't really elaborate as it's not my place to do so, and I can't guarantee they will reach out to you (or grant your wish), but I can ask the question.

[Edit: Where a town redevelopment is planned than involves streetscape upgrades, it would normally fall under the remit of the local council to contact Spark regarding payphone relocation/removal]

Thanks, Simon @ Chorus

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer Chorus NZ Ltd

Bung

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#3358813 30-Mar-2025 21:39

Goosey:

But, in an emergency these payphone sites are super popular for people to get "WiFi".

I remember friends during ChCh EQ's would talk about walking down to the local phone box to get WiFi during power outages etc etc.

Ive seen different designs of these payphones... a few full metal sided ones (so the problem with glass breaking is eliminated).

Is Wifi at phonebox locations still common? Both the locations at Foxton Beach have lost Wifi. The network location map doesn't show me any wifi access points in Wellington area.

cyril7

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#3359180 31-Mar-2025 17:22

Hi Simon, I have flicked off a PM re the location. As to your question, it has been discussed with council at a certain level, but nothing progressed, so now the local ratepayers have asked to press again from another angle.

Cheers Cyril