Minister to chase fast net access for NZers

By ADAM GIFFORD

Commerce and Information Technology Minister Paul Swain intends to ask cabinet for urgent action on getting broadband internet access for all New Zealanders.

Mr Swain is in Seattle attending a Microsoft-organised Government Leaders Conference as part of a fact-finding trip to Britain, Ireland and North and South America. The conference, attended by 500 leaders of electronic Government initiatives from 80 countries, had impressed on him the need for urgency.

"There's a lot of competition for the knowledge space.

"All countries are trying to attract direct foreign investment, particularly in information and communications technology, and in the software development space they're all looking at having an educated and skilled work force to offer.

"New Zealand is in a good place at the moment but if we don't get on with it we will fall behind."

Mr Swain said broadband was critical. "In New Zealand it's just not good enough to deliver distance education services, nor for farmers to be involved in e-commerce.

"Farmers will want to take part in auctions or get up-to-date information on their woolshed yields. "If last year was about trying to get the regulatory environment right, this year is about getting broadband sorted out."

While in Seattle he has been talking with telecommunications companies "about how to drive this hard."

On his return, he will talk to companies and the Telecommunications Users Association (Tuanz) about doing a stock-take of what technologies arebeing used for internet access.

"There needs to be an education programme to show and tell people what opportunities there are for business-to-business internet, and how if they are frustrated about access now, they will be more so in future."

The Government, the private sector and communities need to work to bring this all together, get the telephone companies talking and get the business case stacking up.

"The objective is for every New Zealander to have access to high-speed internet.

"It's not necessary every house have access but we will be looking at at how marae, libraries, schools, community centres and other places people congregate can be used."

Internet kiosks could be placed in New Zealand Post shops alongside the new bank facilities.

Mr Swain has also met groups of New Zealand expatriates during his trip.

He said more needed to be done to reach out to the expatriate community, perhaps modelled on Ireland's "bridge" concept.

"There's enormous goodwill there, and they're pleased to hear they can have a more positive role rather than the negative thing where they are seen as being somehow disloyal by going overseas."