The Vodafone tower stands tall seven months after the dispute between Department of Conservation and Vodafone was resolved.

After years of waiting, a remote village has joined the 21st century with the construction of a Vodafone tower.

Locals of Ohura in the Ruapehu district were left fuming when the Department of Conservation locked the gates to the access site after three years of planning.

Now, the cellphone tower is finally up and running, boosting communication to more than 230 rural homes.

Anita Kendrick Local farmers, including Scott Gower, had rallied for years to get a cellphone tower installed and were frustrated when it was stalled.

Ruapehu District Mayor Don Cameron said Ohura is "a long, long way out from anywhere" - more than 40km away from the nearest settlement.

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The town's population is around 160 people, with 30 per cent on a benefit or living an "alternative" lifestyle.

The Ohura tower was one of two new sites in the Ruapehu District to be completed under the Government's Rural Broadband Initiative.

Cameron said cellphone and internet coverage would bring huge benefits to the "struggling" district, which had limited access to communications, power, television and employment opportunities.

"A number of those people probably won't bother with using the internet anyway because they like being off the grid ... But it's so important for the farmers in that area who have been pushing and pushing for it so they can run their businesses properly and be more productive," he said.

The site - which already has two satellite dishes - was on private land off Waitaanga Rd but was only accessible by a track that ran through DOC land.

Construction for the site started in October but DOC locked the gates in December after Vodafone breached the permit by constructing a road and removing vegetation.

Vodafone's technology director Tony Baird said access to broadband and connectivity were critical tools for those living in rural areas.

"Being connected to regional, national and international partners is critical in ensuring rural businesses remain competitive and keep innovating.

"We're continually investing so our rural customers gain access to the same benefits as those living in urban areas, and have done so since the Rural Broadband Initiative began. Our focus is to ensure rural Kiwis can stay reliably connected."