Connecting Aotearoa Summit 2026
Join us on Wednesday 13 May in Wellington to find answers to the question: How do we get everyone connected to the best broadband service that meets their needs to live and thrive in our digital future by 2030?
We’re excited to announce the Connecting Aotearoa Summit 2026—the premier event for shaping New Zealand’s digital future. We launched the expanded event last year to ensure the issues we
cover are relevant and pertinent to the nation’s most pressing challenges. In 2026, this is more critical than ever, as the general election looms. We need to make digital connectivity and equity
front-and-centre of political debate, economic prosperity, and social wellbeing. The decisions made this year will lock in New Zealand’s digital trajectory for the rest of the decade.
This year, we are proposing that the Summit tackles the crucial question: “How do we get everyone connected to the best broadband service that meets their needs to live and thrive in our digital future by 2030?”
This ambitious national goal demands immediate, coordinated action from policymakers, industry, and community leaders. Join us as we delve into the critical issues surrounding digital connectivity in Aotearoa, directly influencing the next government’s mandate. At this early stage, we are proposing that our sub-themes include:
Policy & Political Mandate: Developing the definitive roadmap for universal connectivity ahead of the 2026 election, securing cross-party commitment to the 2030 target.
Rural Connectivity: Bridging the digital divide and ensuring resilient, future-proof access for all, regardless of location.
Affordability & Digital Equity: Examining the total cost barriers (device, data, skills) to internet access and advancing practical solutions for true inclusion.
Future-Proofing Connectivity: Looking ahead to emerging technologies and innovative, sustainable solutions that will make the 2030 target a reality.
These are all critical to us meeting our vision that by 2030, everyone in Aotearoa is connected to the best broadband service that meets their needs. This prospectus outlines how you can partner with this Summit to influence the national agenda and help us address the question around how we connect all of Aotearoa.
- WHEN: Wednesday 13 May 2026
- WHERE: Banquet hall, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Platinum Partner
Highlights of Connecting Aotearoa Summit 2025
Connecting Aotearoa Summit 2026 Programme
Wednesday 13 May
- Main Room Sessions
08:50
Welcome & Powhiri
09:15
Opening & Welcome
Barbara Kuriger, Deputy Speaker, New Zealand Parliament
09:30
Opening Keynote
Chorus NZ
10:00
Preparing for the digital infrastructure needs of 2030 and beyond
Andrew Bender, CTO and Head of Strategy, Fixed Networks, NOKIA
10:45
Morning Tea
11:15
An update from the RCG
Ian Hooker, CEO, The Rural Connectivity Group
11:30
How do we build cross-sector collaboration to build community resiliency.
TBA
12:15
Table Work
12:30
Lunch
13:15
Measuring Digital Inclusion and how we collaborate to shift the numbers
TBA
14:45
Afternoon Tea
15:15
Political Party Debate: Labour, Greens, NZFirst; What are your plans to solve the digital divide?
Hūhana Lyndon, Green Party
Jenny Marcroft, NZ First
Reuben Davidson, Labour Party
16:00
Keynote : Premier Partner
Jason Paris, CEO of One NZ
16:30
Ministerial Keynote
Hon Paul Goldsmith, Minister for Media and Communications
17:00
Closing Comments
Paul Littlefair, Chair, TUANZ Board
17:15
Networking Drinks
Connecting Aotearoa Summit Speakers
HON PAUL GOLDSMITH
Minister for Media and Communications
Paul Goldsmith is the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Minister of Justice, Minister for Media and Communications and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations.
Born in Mt Eden and having attended Auckland Grammar School, Paul lives with his wife and their four children in the Epsom electorate. First elected off the National Party list in 2011, Paul served as the Chair of the Parliamentary Finance and Expenditure Select Committee. He held several Ministerial roles in the Fifth National Government.
Before entering Parliament, Paul was a historian and biographer publishing numerous books.
JASON PARIS
CEO, One NZ
Jason has worked in the telecommunications industry for over 20 years in NZ, Australia and the UK.
CRAIG YOUNG
CEO, TUANZ
Craig is passionate about the digital technology and communications industry because of the opportunity it offers for improving business and personal lives in New Zealand. He is currently the Chief Executive of TUANZ (the Technology Users Association) which is helping New Zealand make the most of the digitally connected world.
Craig is an advocate for inclusivity, and equity especially in the digital technology sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. He was instrumental in the launch of TUANZ’s future leaders programme, FLINT, in 2016. He is the joint Chair of the Affordable Connectivity Constellation with the Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa, and a trustee at the 2020 Trust.
ANDREW CUSHEN
MC
Andrew has spent most of the last 20 years working in New Zealand telecommunications, including time with a number of large operators, small operators and not-for-profits.
Andrew now runs Cushen Consulting, his own consultancy practice, providing corporate affairs and strategy advice across a variety of industries and clients. This includes serving as the inaugural Chief Executive of the Climate Forestry Association, Co-Chair of DPMC’s Multi Stakeholder Group to strengthen resilience to disinformation, and strategic advisor to Gravity Internet.
Andrew is a Board Member of TUANZ.
PAUL LITTLEFAIR
CDTO, Kiwibank and Chair TUANZ Board
Paul is the Chief Digital and Technology Office at Kiwibank, having held several senior technology roles in the financial services industry including ASB, BNZ and Bank of South Pacific. He has broad expertise and experience across cloud, agile software delivery, devops, data, infrastructure and architecture and was a recipient of New Zealand ‘CIO of The Year’ having won this prestigious award in 2019 while CIO at Livestock Improvement Corporation.
Now living in Wellington, Paul migrated to New Zealand from the UK in 1998, and has international experience working in UK, USA, Australia and the South Pacific.
Paul is a Board Member of TUANZ.
ZOE UDY
MC
Zoe grew up a digital native, further expanding her interest in technology by studying Computer Science and pursuing a career first in technical Project Management, and now in Solution Architecture. Having recently (2025) joined Z Energy, Zoe is increasingly passionate about the ways technology can help to provide positive outcomes for all New Zealanders.
Education in STEM and providing pathways for students into careers in the tech and telco industries is also an area of interest and concern for Zoe. She spent several years as the Chair of FLINT Wellington, and believes that if students are engaged in technology education at key ages, and then nurtured through their early careers, we will build a diverse and capable workforce for many years to come.
Zoe is a Board Member of TUANZ.
Barbara Kuriger
Deputy Speaker, NZ Parliament
Barbara Kuriger has been the elected MP for Taranaki-King Country, one of the largest rural electorates in New Zealand, since 2014 and is currently the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
A life-long dairy farmer, Barbara remains a shareholder in two family-owned farming businesses. Focused succession planning allowed Barbara to transition from full time farming to follow her passion for the Agribusiness industry into the roles of governance, coaching and leadership. She was named the 2012 Dairy Woman of the Year and has been a member of the Boards of DairyNZ, Primary ITO Board, Taratahi, Dairy Women’s Network, and NZ Young Farmers. Barbara has completed an Institute for Strategic Leadership MBA and is a past scholarship recipient of the Food & Agribusiness Market Experience (FAME). In 2014 she became a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. She qualified from the PGCert in Public Policy in 2024.
Hūhana Lyndon
Green Party Spokesperson
Hūhana Lyndon, nō Ngātiwai, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Whātua, Waikato Tainui and Pare Hauraki. Daughter of the North, her roots, life and career are firmly grounded in Te Tai Tokerau.
As a single mother raising 3 daughters, Hūhana is an advocate for the advancement of He Whakaputanga me Te Tiriti o Waitangi with the Crown, Local Government and community on behalf of hapū and iwi. Hūhana has a diverse career portfolio in health, education and primary industries at operational and governance levels. Hūhana has stood twice in Local Government Elections.
Hūhana is the former CEO of Ngātiwai Trust Board and Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust. Hūhana secured research funding for the development of the first Indigenous Forestry Transition Plan for the 5600ha of the Trust’s corpus underpinned by mātauranga o Ngāti Hine. She implemented cadetships into the Trust’s Kiwifruit Orchards and led the iwi strategy for the protection of taonga on land and sea underpinned by WAI 262. Hūhana takes a collaborative leadership approach which was demonstrated in the Ngātiwai and Ngāti Hine COVID-19 response – tiaki tangata, whenua, me te moana.
Ian Hooker
CEO, The RCG
Ian Hooker has been with the Rural Connectivity Group (RCG) since 2020 and was appointed CEO in 2023. With more than 30 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry, Ian brings a wealth of expertise in navigating the complex and fast-paced world of digital technology and project delivery.
Ian’s passion, dedication, and commitment have been instrumental in RCG’s success, overseeing the completion of the Government-funded Rural Broadband Initiative 2 (RBI2) and Mobile Black Spot Fund (MBSF) programmes. Under his leadership, RCG has delivered over 570 rural cell sites, bringing essential mobile connectivity to some of the most remote parts of Aotearoa.
Building on this success, Ian is now steering RCG into new areas of innovation, including the launch of iConn, RCG’s in-building connectivity solution that extends reliable mobile coverage indoors. His leadership ensures RCG continues to deliver and operate critical telecommunications infrastructure, connecting communities wherever they live, work, and gather.
Andrew Bender
CTO and Head of Strategy & Technology, Fixed Networks, NOKIA
Andrew Bender is CTO for the Network Infrastructure – Fixed Networks business division of Nokia.
He leads the team of industry experts managing new technology initiatives, industry engagement, ecosystem strategy, and the invention portfolio in the division. Working in partnership with Nokia Bell Labs, the Nokia Fixed Networks CTO team pursues innovations in the broadband, multigigabit PON, optical access, 5G fixed wireless, Wi-Fi, network automation, and cloud software application domains.
Andrew is the designated AI officer for the division, responsible for facilitating experiments, development and projects that apply the technology for internal systems and customer use. As a member of the U.S. country management organization for Nokia, he leads the forum for policy, strategy, and commercial initiatives concerning the U.S. presence of the company. He also serves on the Executive Advisory Board of the Broadband Forum, contributing industry and technical insight to the direction of the organization.
Andrew has over 20 years of industry experience spanning the networking, hardware engineering, cloud computing, and software sectors. Andrew has held a number of senior technical leadership positions at VMware, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and NEC Corporation of America
Jenny Marcroft
Under-Secretary, Media and Communications
Jenny Marcroft entered Parliament with New Zealand First in 2017 and is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Media and Communications.
Ms Marcroft brings a 30-year career in radio and television, experience in health and the environment, and worked in the Auckland Mayor’s Office.
After growing up in Rotorua, Jenny has spent the last 20 years in the Rodney district and is now based in Matakana.
Jenny is a New Zealand First MP.
Reuben Davidson
Labour Party Spokesperson, Science, Technology & Innovation and Broadcasting, Media and Creative Economy
Reuben is grateful and excited to be the MP for Christchurch East. Born in Christchurch, he has lived there most of his life and is proud to call North New Brighton home.
Reuben’s professional career has involved producing children’s TV shows like What Now, Fanimals and Brain Busters. His television industry experience has given him skills to organise and collaborate with a diverse mix of people. As Labour spokesperson for Science, Technology & Innovation and Broadcasting, Media and Creative Economy he’s excited by the opportunities for New Zealand.
New Zealand is well placed to lead the world with innovation and by empowering our creative economy, we deserve a Government that backs great jobs in these industries.
Reuben is committed to working with you, to navigate the challenges ahead, so we can build a better, smarter and safer future for Christchurch East and Aotearoa New Zealand.
TBA
TBA
TBA
My passion is being able to make a difference at governance, management or hands-on level in an organisation that contributes to our society. I have worked in the sport and recreation, outdoors, education and health sectors for over 35 years and have had the privilege to lead small and larger teams to have positive impacts on those who want to enhance opportunities for others in our incredible country. My experience has included practitioner, teacher, researcher, management and governance roles across a range of organisations.
TBA
Skip has been part of Rhema Media for over 15 years, working alongside talented teams to deliver radio and television content to audiences across Aotearoa.
With a strong background in Enterprise ICT, Skip has also contributed to organisations operating in some of the most demanding environments—building and maintaining secure, resilient communications platforms where reliability is critical.
Today, he’s focused on leading Rhema Media’s efforts to bridge traditional analog radio transmission with emerging digital platforms—creating innovative, cost-effective solutions that don’t compromise on reliability or reach.
TBA
Vivian Chandra is a tech strategist who has a particular passion for education and tech inequity. For the past decade, she has been working with schools and kura nationwide to upskill their kaiako (teachers) in digital technologies and fluency.
She is currently the co-director of Ally Skills Aotearoa, an organisation that works with forward-thinking companies to create inclusive, high-performance teams.
Vivian is a 2nd degree black belt in karate, and volunteers as an instructor at her club, helping to foster the next generation of karateka
TBA
Over the past five years, Lee Timutimu (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou) has devoted his life to advocating for Māori in the digital technology (digitech) sector. With over 20 years of experience in IT, Lee is on a mission to foster representation and participation of Māori in the industry.
As the Founder of Te Matarau (the Māori Tech Association), Co-Founder of Te Hapori Matihiko (a community for all Māori working in digitech), and Co-Founder of Ko Maui Hangarau (a rangatahi tech summit), Lee’s impact is expansive. His dedication as a leader and advocate have led him to participate at all levels within the ecosystem, from working on the ground delivering digital literacy workshops to Marae trustees and inspiring the next generation of rangatahi Māori into digitech, to sitting at governance tables that have influence.
Lee is recognised as a leading voice for Māori in digitech and actively speaks at events, emphasising the importance of representation. Alongside this mahi, Lee dedicates personal time to mentorship, embodying his commitment to nurturing future talent and driving impactful change in the tech sector.”
TBA
Chris started work in the high voltage power distribution industry currently known as Orion in Canterbury as an apprentice and then operator. He then spend a number of years on a family dairy farm where rural broadband was lacking and where he started Amuri Net in 2005. Originally it was intended for the farm and a “few neighbours” but this wireless network soon grew to cover most of upper Canterbury and lower Marlborough. Early 2022 marked a new phase as the company began expanding into building a fibre network south of Rangiora. Chris leads a dedicated team making a small difference in the connectivity landscape.
Platinum Partner
Gold Partner
Silver Partner
Bronze Partner
Coffee Cart Partner
Networking Drinks Partner
FLINT Partner
Lunch Partner
Morning Tea Partner
Afternoon Tea Partner
Conference Partners
