The New Zealand Maori Internet Society neutral on Maori missing out on Spectrum allocation

NZMIS are disappointed that the government have ignored the Waitangi Tribunal recommendations from 2000 that spectrum is a taonga. However, NZMIS would like to know more details about the proposed $30 million Maori ICT fund and if the money is being taken from other Maori resources and as to what conditions the funds will be used.

The initial allocation of $5million for Maori to purchase spectrum has been a slow process for Maori to benefit from but will in the long term create the education and employment opportunities for Maori in ICT as we are already seeing with internships and ICT scholarships within 2Degrees.

With an ICT fund the whole of Maoridom will quickly benefit with education and employment opportunities, as opposed to spectrum being allocated to a small group of Maori to make long term investments.

In the meantime, NZMIS will consult with its 2000 strong membership to gauge what the wider Maori community would like to see happen. It will also take a neutral approach with the expected legal action against the government for Maori to be allocated spectrum.

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