Katene Rahui: Telecommunications (TSO Broadband and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Katene Rahui: Telecommunications (TSO Broadband and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:669;Page:16078] 
RAHUI KATENE (Maori Party—Te Tai Tonga) 
: 
 The Maori Party is proud to support the Telecommunications (TSO Broadband and Other Matters) Amendment Bill and in doing so ensure the successful implementation of the Government’s policy programme for the telecommunications sector. As other speakers have highlighted this bill has three simple aims: to streamline the administration of telecommunications instruments to consolidate the mechanisms for industry funding of telecommunications service and to establish a regulatory framework for the broadband networks that will be developed under the Ultra-fast Broadband Initiative and the Rural Broadband Initiative. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Cross the floor on the foreshore and seabed. 
RAHUI KATENE 
: Oh I tell you! Not so long ago cramming so much terminology into one sentence would have caused us to go running for the headphones to decode the lingo but if we go around Maori communities today it is quickly obvious that telecommunications networks are rapidly becoming a vital means of keeping our whanau connected. If there is doubt about the veracity of my claims let me list a few of the initiatives that we in the Maori Party regularly come across. 
In Te Tai Tokerau my colleague Hone Harawira tells me a group of six iwi in the north are right on the brink of constructing a 200-kilometre regional backhaul fibre infrastructure connection between Auckland and Whangarei especially established to link rural communities together or as the Rural Broadband Initiative describes them non-urban areas. In Waiariki Te Ururoa Flavell tells me they are almost spoilt for choice. In the southern end of the electorate Tuaropaki Communications has developed a superior reputation for its satellite communications. In Whakatane there is the development of a regional backhaul fibre infrastructure as a result of a collaboration between Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi and Ngati Awa. And of course as would only be appropriate for the Tuhoe nation there are the unique initiatives that come under the umbrella of Tuhoe Wireless. Not to be outdone Tariana tells me that Te Tai Hauauru is leading information and communications technology capital. Te Wananga o Raukawa is a major player. It has almost completed the first stage of the telecommunications transformation of Otaki through the innovative approach of linking key facilities such as libraries schools businesses homes iwi radio marae wananga and farms all brought together under a fibre network. It is building on its success in Otaki by seeking to construct a fibre network up to Hamilton via Whanganui and New Plymouth while at the same time looking to enhance the access network infrastructure and impact within Horowhenua. 
In fact so equipped are our whanau hapu and iwi for the information age that the recent request for proposals for the Rural Broadband Initiative saw three specific proposals from iwi. An excerpt from the submission by Te Runganga o Ngati Porou shows that they are behind the Rural Broadband Initiative and also highlights their need for a network upgrade: “Ngati Porou rohe lies almost entirely in Telecom zone 4 and so cannot expect to benefit from Telecom’s network upgrades under their Operational Separation undertakings. … we submit that the Government should view Ngati Porou rohe as a particularly high priority for investment under the Rural broadband initiative.” To that I would add that it is time the Government looked at how the Chatham Islands can be linked into these technologies as well. 
The Maori Party has a distinctive policy approach in telecommunications which seeks to encourage whanau to enter into commercial enterprises that build on their particular circumstances as a whanau. So when we see the enthusiasm with which our people approach telecommunications we are clearly going to support anything that will enable their dreams and aspirations to be advanced. 
Another one of the submissions that came forward for the Rural Broadband Initiative was from Torotoro Waea which is an alliance that includes 24 members from various iwi and “industry partners”. In a statement Torotoro Waea promised to link not just rural schools as required by the tender but 1000 marae. This is a particularly novel enterprise. Rural marae can be considered as being in a better position to serve the community than rural schools given that there are no assurances that each and every rural school will continue to operate in the future. And of course marae are the virtual hub of all entities within Maori communities. They are the meeting place of whanau hapu and iwi and the venue for economic development initiatives for strategic planning hui and for annual general meetings—the perfect location for networking. 
The Maori Party has looked into the so-called step change that will be operational through the provision of broadband services in Aotearoa. We have given particular consideration to the tender programmes to see whether the fibre-to-the-premises approach or the construction of an enhanced broadband infrastructure will affect Maori-owned land. We suggest that local fibre companies and telecommunications companies that will be carrying out the work be legally required to consult landowners prior to any work being done and as such we would hope for a commitment to consultation and accountability. We agree with Torotoro Waea that marae should be included as a priority for the initiative and will be looking to introduce amendments during the select committee process to this effect. And of course we were most interested that iwi submissions on the discussion document were in favour of the Rural Broadband Initiative and by default we would presume support the programme of key reforms to the telecommunications sector outlined in this bill. But we leave nothing to chance and we look forward to the select committee process to see and hear the impacts that whanau hapu and iwi will bring to the table. We support this bill at its first reading.