The Technology Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) is calling for digital connectivity to be recognised as essential national infrastructure, warning that too many New Zealanders remain locked out of opportunities because they cannot access or afford reliable internet services.
The organisation has released a new Access and Inclusion position paper arguing that while New Zealand has invested heavily in world-class digital infrastructure over the past two decades, the next challenge is ensuring everyone can benefit from it. Around 87 percent of New Zealanders can now access ultra-fast fibre broadband, but significant barriers remain for many communities.
TUANZ says approximately one in ten households still does not have internet access at home, with Māori, Pacific communities, disabled people and low-income households disproportionately affected. Rural communities also continue to face higher costs and fewer connectivity options than those living in urban centres.
The paper argues that internet access is no longer a luxury but a necessity, underpinning education, healthcare, employment, business, emergency response and participation in everyday life. It says treating connectivity as core infrastructure would place it alongside services such as electricity, roads and water, ensuring resilience and equitable access become national priorities rather than purely commercial considerations.
To address the digital divide, TUANZ is proposing four key actions. These include formally recognising connectivity as essential infrastructure, establishing a national connectivity and resilience register to identify vulnerable areas and improve emergency planning, developing affordable connectivity solutions for low-income households, and ensuring government digital services are designed to be inclusive and accessible from the outset.
The proposed affordability measures could include subsidised home broadband and mobile data, bulk funding for devices, and digital skills programmes delivered in partnership with government, industry and community organisations. TUANZ says meaningful digital inclusion requires more than simply building networks—it also means ensuring people can afford to connect and have the skills to use digital services confidently.
The organisation also highlights the importance of network resilience following recent severe weather events and natural disasters, which have demonstrated how critical reliable communications are during emergencies. A national resilience register, TUANZ argues, would help identify connectivity “not-spots” and ensure emergency resources can be directed where they are needed most.
For Māori communities, improved connectivity has the potential to strengthen access to education, telehealth, digital business opportunities and government services, while supporting whānau living in remote and rural areas. TUANZ says closing the digital divide is essential if Aotearoa is to build a more productive, resilient and inclusive society where no community is left behind.
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