The Tech Users Association (TUANZ) supports the government’s Lifting Connectivity in Aotearoa statement of intent regarding digital connectivity infrastructure released today.

Lifting Connectivity in Aotearoa outlines the foundation for the digital connectivity we currently have, and the areas that need to continue to be addressed in order to reach the overarching vision of enabling Aotearoa New Zealand’s people, communities, economy and environment to flourish and prosper in the digital era outlined in the Digital Strategy for Aotearoa released this year.

“The last two years of pandemic disruptions have highlighted the importance of high-quality connectivity when it comes to how we work, learn, do business and socialise remotely,” says Craig Young, CEO, TUANZ.

“We’ve been proposing a 10 year plan for some time now, so it’s great to see this is now in place with some clear objectives and principles on how the government aims to meet these.”

“While urban New Zealand has enjoyed a seamless experience, rural, sub-rural and remote users have not always experienced the same standard of connectivity. We are pleased the government has included goals to improve access to connectivity infrastructure, particularly for rural and remote communities, and are focusing on local solutions for local problems which we have always pushed for.”

“This statement of intent sets out some good ambitions and we’ll make sure we hold the government and industry to account.”

Insights from Lifting Connectivity in Aotearoa have been published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

Key themes include:

1. Enabling more people to benefit from connectivity
2. Digital connectivity progress since the launch of Ultra-Fast Broadband
3. Challenges and opportunities for the future
4. Government’s vision for 2032: All people in New Zealand have broadband and voice connectivity networks available to them that meet their life, work and study needs.

“Ultimately, we are pleased to see some clear goals set out and captured in this statement of intent. We will continue to push for improved access to connectivity infrastructure, particularly for rural and remote communities, and want to see this intent endure any change of government. Now we will wait to see how well the government delivers on these aspirations,” says Craig.

View the report here.

For further comment or interview, please contact Craig Young

Phone: 021 488 188

Email: craig.young@tuanz.org.nz

TUANZ is proud to be the named sponsor of the People’s Choice Award – Broadband 2022 at the NZ Compare Awards. The award recognises the best overall service provider in New Zealand, as voted by the New Zealand public. 

The award celebrates a service provider that has achieved success based on those that matter to them – their community, stakeholders, staff, and customers. Businesses like this contribute to our focus on driving New Zealand telecommunications forward so New Zealand can make the most of the digitally connected world.

As an independent voice for all Kiwi users of technology, TUANZ is pleased to see Internet Service Providers striving to help New Zealanders access connected technology, and in turn improve New Zealand’s economic prosperity.

Voting for the award is now open! So go on and cast your vote for who you think is the best overall service provider in the country.

Public voting closes on Friday 18 November. The winner will be announced at a Gala Awards Night in Auckland on Thursday 1 December, where we will present the award.

For more information, visit https://awards.nzcompare.com/category/peoples-choice-award-broadband-2022

The Digital Boost Alliance is celebrating one year of boosting digital acceleration in Aotearoa through the collaborative efforts of public and private organisations.

The one-year anniversary (delayed until September) will be celebrated at Auckland’s Grand Millennium Hotel this evening.

“We are thrilled to celebrate one year of this valuable initiative. Thank you to all 47 organisations who are involved in the Alliance – we appreciate your support and commitment to driving digital acceleration in Aotearoa,” says Craig Young, CEO of TUANZ.

Launched in May 2021, The Digital Boost Alliance is a joint public-private initiative that supports the uptake of digital tools for small businesses, communities, and individuals.

“Over the last two years, many business owners had no option but to move to digital platforms in order to continue to generate revenue and meet the changing expectations of their customers. However, small business owners and operators lacked easy access to tools that could facilitate this transformation.

“Digital Boost was launched in December 2020 to fulfil the Government’s vision of New Zealand having the most digitally-enabled small business sector in the world. The Alliance is a key part of this essential programme. Being part of the Alliance means our members have made commitments that genuinely help New Zealanders and businesses to boost their digital capability.

“Over the past year, our members have provided subsidised, discounted, and free products and services to small businesses, communities, and individuals to enable this to happen.

“We facilitate regular workshops and feature people who are experts in areas that have been identified as priorities. These voluntary workshops are designed to encourage members to share ideas and knowledge.”

Digital Boost Alliance members have committed to a five-year roadmap to help grow Aotearoa’s digital capabilities and find ways to reduce barriers to small businesses.

The event will also provide an opportunity for Hon. Dr David Clark, Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, to launch the Digital Strategy for Aotearoa.

“The launch of the Digital Strategy for Aotearoa reflects the importance of initiatives like the Alliance. We welcome the Strategy as a key enabler to unlocking our digital future.”

The Digital Boost Alliance remains committed to developing the resilience of small businesses, communities, and individuals across Aotearoa as the broader shift to digital continues.

For further comment or interview, please contact Craig Young

Phone: 021 488 188 

Email: craig.young@tuanz.org.nz 

TUANZ MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 24th May 2022

 

The last two years have shown the true value of high-quality connectivity as we dealt with a global pandemic. But while urban New Zealand has been able to deal with the changes without missing a beat, in rural New Zealand users have battled the same debilitating connectivity issues. The demand for uninterrupted, high-speed internet access has never been higher; if not addressed rural communities and businesses – will continue to be disadvantaged.

 

With the country now being in the orange traffic light setting, TUANZ is again hosting the Rural Connectivity Symposium for the first time in person since 2019. This event provides a forum where we can meet together to share stories, both positive and negative, of the state of rural connectivity.  

 

TUANZ CEO Craig Young says, “The topic of improving rural connectivity is still too important to give up on. 2022 will give us the chance again to sit down, reset the dialogue around the next steps for connectivity and imagine what could be if we saw continued real improvements to rural services.”

 

In 2022 TUANZ is partnering with the Wireless ISP Association (WISPA) to offer a two-day event around the theme of “Imagine if…”

 

Day One, Tuesday 14th June, will start with a WISPA member-only morning which will include their AGM. The afternoon session on day one will be a time to set the scene, including updating everyone on progress in improving rural connectivity since the last time we were able to meet.

 

Day Two, Wednesday 15th June, will then focus on the future around four specific ‘communities’ – on the farm, on the Marae, in the classroom, and on the move.

 

Confirmed speakers for the event include Hon David Clark, Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, Graeme Mitchell, CEO of Crown Infrastructure Partners, Richard Mooney, Chief Strategy Officer at Vodafone, Antony Royal, CEO at the Interim Māori Spectrum Commission and Dr Wayne Williams, CEO of the 2020 Trust.

 

The event will be held at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton on Tuesday14th June and Wednesday 15th June.

 

TUANZ invites people who work or live in rural communities, along with anyone interested in the future of rural connectivity to register to participate.  

 

For more information visit or to register to attend visit: https://tuanz.org.nz/rural-connectivity-symposium-2022/ 

 

Media are invited to attend and should contact the TUANZ CEO, Craig Young directly (craig.young@tuanz.org.nz)

 

ENDS

 

WHO IS TUANZ?

 

The association for the users of digital technology and connectivity.

We are the independent voice of our members and all users in a complex digital world. We know that access to technology is key to digital business and force for social good and we are here to help our members make sense of the digital future.

 

TUANZ has over thirty-five years of bringing the users of ICT into the debate about the future of the digital economy. Much of what we take for granted today around choice of service comes from the work we, with our members, have done and continue to do.

 

We are a powerful channel to decision-makers and developing leaders in this sector.

We have a highly engaged community of over 1,400 individuals working in our member organisations in roles that use or are responsible for digital technology.

 

 

TUANZ MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 24th February 2022

 

TUANZ is welcoming the announcement yesterday from the Commerce Commission that they are continuing their focus on how broadband services are marketed in NZ through the release of their consultation paper on the Measuring Broadband NZ (MBNZ) programme. This follows on from the instruction issued to the industry in November last year to develop a marketing code that ensures consumers receive all the information they need from telco providers to make informed choices about the technology options and plans that best suit their needs.

 

The Telecommunications Forum is currently developing these marketing codes and we are encouraged by the positive approach they are taking to meet these requirements and how they are looking to utilise information from the MBNZ programme in the implementation of their codes. An independent service such as the MBNZ programme is key to being able to compare services – which is why the consultation that the Commission is undertaking is welcomed.

 

Craig Young, CEO of TUANZ said “It’s well known that communication providers have long used confusion as a tactic within their marketing of broadband services to Kiwi consumers, and we are genuinely pleased to see these moves by the industry which we believe will lead to fairer and more responsible behaviour on the part of providers.”

 

Young says “these are all very good first steps in the journey to improving clarity, transparency and comparability of services which will make a significant difference if implemented and policed fully.”

 

However, the members of TUANZ believe that more can be done as technology changes and enables smarter options for ensuring transparent competition. That’s why TUANZ in 2021 commissioned The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) to undertake a review of inertia and complexity in the NZ market. We also asked the BIT team to look globally at what possible solutions might be on the horizon. Some of the solutions in the report are able to be implemented now, while a number are more future-focused but contribute to the ongoing conversation about improving outcomes for consumers.

 

“Parts of this report have been made available through the Commerce Commission submissions processes, but we now believe that it is time to make the full report publicly available for discussion,” says Young. “In particular, ideas such as simple guidelines on how to present information, updating the current product disclosure regime and holding providers accountable for the output of their choices are all ideas that should feed into the current work.”

 

The BIT report was completed in July 2021 and (is attached to this release) can be found here.