Dunne: NZ needs broadband, not bickering

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne says the future of New Zealand needs a vastly improved broadband infrastructure, not the current bout of political bickering.

“John Key has proposed a $1.5 billion broadband plan with the declared intention of strengthening the New Zealand economy so that we can compete in a global market,” he said.

“Everyone agrees that’s a good idea, but all we’ve heard so far is the Minister of Communications carping that National is being opportunistic and handing too much monopoly power to Telecom; New Zealand First is similarly outraged that Telecom is getting too much money; and ACT has delivered the standard libertarian rant that hates the Government collecting or spending any money at all.

“Surely the point is that widespread, superfast broadband is a good thing for the New Zealand economy and the only question is: how do we get there?

“It’d be excellent if politicians spent more time working out the answer to that question and not simply whacking each other over the head and feeling they’ve accomplished something.

“If direct government investment like Mr Key proposes is not the answer, then I’d like to hear two things from the critics – first, what is the alternative, and second, why has it not happened to date,” said Mr Dunne.

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