8. CHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Communications
Has he received any further reports on broadband in New Zealand?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Communications) Link to this
Yes. I have seen a report in the New Zealand Herald on Saturday 18 August headed “Ringing the changes”. The article states: “the brave new world of competition is finally upon us.” It refers to the many positive changes occurring under this Labour-led Government. It goes on to say: “Consumers should brace themselves for … more deals that bundle together mobile, land line and broadband … faster and flasher services for computers and mobile phones.” This is brought about by local loop unbundling and results in cheaper competitive services being offered by Orcon, Vodafone, and TelstraClear, which is emerging as a third serious competitor in the mobile market.
What initiatives has he recently introduced to consolidate and drive forward the Government’s telecommunications revolution, and what are the implications of these moves?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
There is more good news. I have recently announced a mega-auction of wireless broadband spectrum that will result in better and cheaper services to rural New Zealand in particular. We have also announced a first-principles review of the old Kiwi share obligation, now known as the Telecom service obligation, to enhance rural and provincial broadband services. The result will be faster, cheaper broadband for all New Zealanders. Given the Government’s efforts to bring competition to the market, there will soon be no need for people to piggyback illegally off their neighbours’ broadband services, as has been reported by Chris Keall on the PC World web page on 27 July as occurring in Parnell around the household of one John Key.
Hon Maurice Williamson Link to this
I seek leave to table three documents. The first is a target of New Zealand being in the top half of the OECD.
Hon Maurice Williamson Link to this
The second is the OECD table showing that when the Government came to power we were actually 20th.
Hon Maurice Williamson Link to this
The third is the OECD document of recent times showing we have dropped to 22nd.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I seek leave to table a page from a weblog called “Chris Keall Daily” that draws attention to the problem of inappropriate piggybacking of neighbours’ broadband.
Madam SPEAKERHon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I seek leave to table an article from the New Zealand Herald of 18 August 2007 highlighting improved competition in broadband.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I seek leave to table an article in today’s New Zealand Herald headed “Telcos want chance to serve all customers” complimenting the Government on—
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I seek leave to table an article from the Dominion on 20 August that compliments the Government on its telecommunications service obligation review.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I seek leave to table a Treasury report of May 1998 in which Treasury recommended the end of Telecom’s monopoly, which Maurice Williamson and the then National Party sought—for their own reasons, which are beyond me—to stall ever since.