Best known for its 1860s goldrush, the small Tuapeka town made history in January when it became the first small New Zealand town to offer free wireless internet in its main business centre.
Now it has taken that idea one step further.
That idea prompted the Tuapeka-Lawrence Community Company to help pay for computers in the town's cafes and eating houses so guests could log on, check their emails and surf the World-wide Web.
Now, free internet-based phone calls are on offer at the Lawrence Information Centre and moves are afoot to expand the service to the same cafes already offering computers as part of the free wireless deal.
Using the popular internet-based Skype service, visitors can use Skype phones to call friends and family anywhere in the world.
The Lawrence service allows users to make free phone calls to 44 selected countries, including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and other large nations.
Jim Robertson, who co-owns the town's largest employer, Tuapeka Gold Print, has had a hand in the idea along with his son, Pat and others who were also involved in the wireless internet development.
He believes the best ideas are the simple ones and the move to offer free phone calls was a "a cheap no-brainer."
"The simplest ideas are usually the best ones and this is such a great idea that I can see no reason why it can't be duplicated elsewhere."
