Telecommunications really did take a long time to roll out in NZ, it evolved relatively slowly at first, starting in the 1870s and of course is still evolving. Some interesting reading here.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/telecommunications/page-2
"Subscriber numbers rose from around 50 in 1880 to 25,000 by 1910, and the number of exchanges rose to 14.The first subscribers paid a hefty annual fee (£17 10s.) to rent (not own) their phone. Rental cost had more than halved by 1900, as more people subscribed."
The fibre roll out has happened, as others have said, at a dizzying pace. It really is one of New Zealand's greatest and most successful infrastructure projects. I still can't believe that 87% of New Zealanders will have fibre by 2022. Eventually just about all New Zealanders will have fibre speeds I guess. If it was me I'd be pretty happy with a solid ADSL connection in the meantime, and even that will likely only get better.
One time I gave a Chorus tech who was sitting in his van a box of scorched Almonds as I returned from the Warehouse (their Waikato brand which is actually very good chocolate). You're doing the Lords work, I said, and I meant it.
It's easy to forget how far we've come in such a short space of time.
God bless you, Chorus.