Reti Shane: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeReti Shane: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 20 August 2015. Volume:707;Page:6030. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister for Communications: Can she provide an update on the broadband deployment in the regions?Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister for Communications): Today we have released the regional snapshot showing how better broadband is being rolled out across the regions which identified that nearly 1 million homes and businesses across New Zealand are now able to benefit from better broadband thanks to the Government’s Ultra-fast Broadband Initiative and Rural Broadband Initiative. The ultra-fast broadband build is complete in 11 towns in provincial New Zealand and another eight towns are expected to be completed in the next 12 months. Uptake for ultra-fast broadband is at 14.6 percent a figure that has quadrupled in just 2 years and uptake for the Rural Broadband Initiative is at 33 percent. So we are making good progress on the Ultra-fast Broadband Initiative and the Rural Broadband Initiative and regional New Zealand cannot get enough of it.Dr Shane Reti: How does better broadband support economic development in regional and rural communities?Hon AMY ADAMS: In my view improving connectivity is the single biggest thing we can do to support regional economic development. Better connectivity ends the tyranny of distance. It allows regional New Zealand to connect not only with other parts of the country but with the world instantly and without disadvantage. It is estimated that the Ultra-fast Broadband Initiative alone is going to deliver more than $33 billion of economic benefit. That is more jobs and higher wages for rural New Zealand. From rural agriculture to tele-health and digital learning high-speed reliable broadband is a game changer for regional New Zealand.Dr Shane Reti: What is next for extending better connectivity to the regions?Hon AMY ADAMS: We have made excellent strides with the first phase of the Ultra-fast Broadband Initiative and the Rural Broadband Initiative but we want to do even more to satisfy New Zealanders’ thirst for connectivity. That is why we have committed an extra $210 million to extend the Ultra-fast Broadband Initiative further into provincial New Zealand which will take us up to at least 80 percent of the population.Dr David Clark: One of the most ineffective programmes ever.Hon AMY ADAMS: They are jealous are they not? We have also committed $100 million to enhance rural broadband coverage and speed and another $50 million to extend mobile network coverage in black spotsto some of the most remote locations. We have had an outstanding response from councils for the registration of interest stage for the expansion with all but four councils putting in responses. I hope to be making further announcements on the request for proposal shortly.Clare Curran: What does she say then to the people of Southland about their rural broadband given that in a survey just released by Adventure Southland only 4 percent have noticed any improvement from the Government’s rural broadband scheme?Hon AMY ADAMS: Well I am pleased that the information was at least attributed in that question. But what I can tell the member is that there are a number of issues affecting that particular part of Southland many of which do not relate to the programme. But I can tell Southland that 80 percent of everyone outside ultra-fast broadband will get better broadband thanks to this Government which Labour voted against.