Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:610;Page:7354] 
10.  
DARREN HUGHES (NZ Labour—Otaki) 
 to the  
Minister for Rural Affairs 
: How is the Government supporting education and economic development in rural New Zealand? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Acting Minister for Rural Affairs) 
: 
 Last week my good colleagues Jim Anderton and Trevor Mallard announced the launch of high-speed Internet access in the Waikato Taranaki and Kapiti-Horowhenua regions. It is the first step in bringing broadband coverage to rural New Zealand. Eight other regions will follow in the next few months including the West Coast Otago Manawatu the Bay of Plenty the Greater Auckland area Canterbury Nelson-Tasman-Marlborough and Gisborne - Hawke’s Bay. 
Darren Hughes 
: Why does the Minister believe that the broadband initiative will be of use to people in provincial and rural New Zealand? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Broadband coverage will create great opportunities for small businesses schools and pupils in rural communities. They will have access to banking business services and Government agencies over the Internet as well as having a wealth of information at their fingertips. For rural schools it will mean that pupils have access to a wider range of subject choices. Some of the most isolated places in New Zealand will be able to receive teaching in specialist subjects and teachers will have access to digital resources and online professional development. 
Shane Ardern 
: How can the Government claim that it is supportive of rural areas when under it there are wholesale closure and review of rural schools right across New Zealand as well as very poor Internet connection right across New Zealand as well as massive job losses in rural New Zealand areas like Taranaki in a couple of its major industries right at the moment? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: There are a few questions in there; I will attempt to answer two of them. Firstly in relation to broadband coverage Project Probe is addressing that as I explained in my first answer. The second one is that the Government’s school review policy is about ensuring sustainable quality education for local children. The savings from any closures and mergers are returned to the local communities. For example the Taieri review merger proposal could unlock about $9 million for that community. The school network review process could be triggered by roll numbers demographic change a school’s education or financial performance or often at the request of the local community. 
Metiria Turei 
: Can the Minister explain perhaps in better detail what use the investment of what has been described as tens of millions of dollars in this infrastructure is when his colleague the Minister of Education is undertaking a number of school network reviews closing schoolhouses and reducing the capacity for school transport which will seriously undermine the viability of rural areas and will discourage families from living in and relocating to rural communities thereby wasting the millions of dollars of investment? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member’s question was too long but the Minister may comment. 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: This Government is not cutting back in any of those areas. We are however reviewing some of those areas including school housing and school buses to make sure that the best use of resources is made by those rural schools and that the Government is in a position to reinvest that money back where it belongs: in quality education for rural school children. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I seek leave of the House to table the record list of rural school closures by this Government. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that list. Is there any objection? There is.