December 02, 2013
Marae CBD project needing fast internet
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says it’s critical that marae get hooked up to the internet.
The party last week joined with other smaller parties to block the Government’s plans to override a Commerce Commission recommendation that will bring down the cost of the internet delivered over the existing copper phone network.
Mr Flavell says the Government is paying Chorus to build a new national high speed broadband network, and it shouldn’t tinker with the rules to give the company extra subsidies.
He says marae are waiting for better connections, especially those who want to be part of the Maori Party’s marae CBD initiative, where marae are brokers or providers of services.
"Many marae already operate that by providing health services on the marae etcetera, that relies very much on the internet and on technolgy these days. You won't even be in the business unless you're able and capable to do the simplest of things that we take for granted, to do emails and so on and do business online. Everything is conducted online these days," he says.
Te Ururoa Flavell says Chorus seems to be making lots of money, so it shouldn’t be crying poverty over the broadband roll out.
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