Clare Curran

Labour remains concerned that Government plans for rural broadband will create a digital divide between urban and rural New Zealand.

The Government's plan is a step towards delivering an essential service to all New Zealanders, but will take too long, and be an inferior service in comparison to the urban broadband rollout.

Labour's Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran and Rural Affairs spokesperson Damien O'Connor said while more rural New Zealanders will eventually access broadband, they'll be on the second class carriage of the broadband train.

"Agriculture, horticulture and tourism increasingly rely on access to broadband and delays in rolling out an effective service in rural areas is costing New Zealand valuable export earnings." Damien O'Connor said.

"And it's unlikely that one millimetre of fibre will be laid this year," Clare Curran said.

"Why should any New Zealander have to wait until next year at the earliest for the first metre of fibre to be laid despite the Prime Minister's promises that the roll out would start last year?

"The facts are that the Government is spending $1.5 billion on providing ultrafast broadband to urban Kiwis and just $300 million to rural New Zealand, a quarter of New Zealand's population.

"Labour is committed to the rollout of ultra-fast broadband in this country.

"It was Labour that developed the digital strategy upon which this Government's scheme is based.

"Labour had a regional-focussed approach, investing money into schemes and not expecting a rate of return because we knew we needed a long term approach.

"Broadband is the network of the future and will drive our economic growth. Faster reliable broadband in rural areas is crucial to that."