Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:675;Page:21048] 
3. 
KATRINA SHANKS (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Communications and Information Technology 
: What progress has the Government made on rolling out ultra-fast broadband in Wellington? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Communications and Information Technology) 
: 
 Good news. I was delighted to attend the commencement of the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband in Wellington just last week in the Lower Hutt suburb of Kelson. In the next 12 months over 9000 premises across Wellington will be passed with new fibre which when combined with existing fibre will total around 29000 priority users in homes covered in the first year. This excellent progress in Wellington is just one part of the wider national roll-out that is currently seeing broadband deployment already under way in Whangarei Auckland Hamilton Tauranga and Whanganui. 
Katrina Shanks 
: How will the roll-out improve broadband services and economic productivity? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: By the time the roll-out is completed in Wellington fibre will cover a population of almost 390000 people as well as 7900 business premises many schools and more than 1500 medical and other health care services. Fibre with ultra-fast capability will mean business people innovators and entrepreneurs in our capital city grant will have a platform from which to compete with anyone anywhere in the world. In addition we are boosting retail competition by ensuring the newly built network is open to retailers on equal terms. Wholesale prices will be as low as half the current price for business services and residential customers will enjoy a vastly improved service for as much as they currently pay or less. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Amongst the good news was there the fact that the broadband is broad enough to get the very big message to Katrina Shanks that the Prime Minister supports Peter Dunne? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is not the Minister’s responsibility at all. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The capacity of broadband to get big messages through the system is something that is certainly his responsibility. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I accept the member’s point except I have ruled the question out of order. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What progress is expected—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Fortunately I did not hear any of that. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: What progress is expected on connecting marae runanga kohanga reo and wananga with ultra-fast broadband? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Under the ultra-fast broadband programme these are all priority users for fibre to the home and they will be provided by the end of 2015 right across the country. Also under the rural broadband programme further marae will be connected as well. The Government is continuing to work with Nga Pu Waea to maximise the benefit of the ultra-fast broadband to iwi hapu and whanau. Once again I take the opportunity to thank the Maori Party for its support in ensuring that this transformational programme for New Zealand is proceeding on time and quickly to the country’s benefit.