Letter to Deputy Prime Minister

Hon Bill English
Deputy Prime Minister
Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6160

22 December 2011

Our Digital Future

Dear Minister,

I am writing to congratulate you on your re-appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. I am also writing to draw your attention to issues relevant to your ministerial responsibilities in which InternetNZ takes an interest.

As you are aware, InternetNZ’s mission is to protect and promote the Internet for New Zealanders. As a charitable, independent and open membership body representing New Zealanders’ best interests, we are keen to work with you to realise the Government’s vision of “a safe, prosperous and successful New Zealand that creates opportunities for all New Zealanders to reach their personal goals and dreams”.

Prior to the election, we published Future: Digital, a discussion-starter on Internet and digital-related priorities for an incoming Government. The document was well received, and it is relevant to a number of areas covered by your ministerial responsibilities. I enclose a copy for your reference.

One of the five areas in Future: Digital relates to the Internet’s potential to drive economic growth. The Internet provides an unprecedented opportunity for New Zealand businesses participating in ‘weightless economies’ to engage in global markets without absorbing the high costs of travelling the distance to participate in them. Cloud computing is but one example. InternetNZ suggests that the Government identify those elements of successful Internet-powered organisations that make a mark on the global economy. This information will inform the ways in which Government can encourage New Zealand-based businesses to best compete in weightless economies.

Your Government has laid the foundation for fundamental change to New Zealand’s long-term economic prospects with the Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiatives. Your commitment to “make the most of faster broadband” through a five-point action plan that realises “the economic, social, and productivity benefits spanning E-education, E-health, E-government, E-business, and E-development” can spark that change.

All areas of the plan, and E-government in particular, will require coordination across multiple portfolios. This will require promotion of a common, shared vision of Internet-enabled economic growth and prosperity, as well as treasury commitment and oversight. This could be achieved via your role as head of the Ministerial ICT Committee. In addition, InternetNZ believes the Ministerial ICT Committee should focus on issues related to open data, cloud computing and IPv6 uptake over the next three years.

On a final note, we would like to again invite you to NetHui. NetHui 2011 was a success, drawing over 500 people from across a wide array of sectors and communities to discuss multiple issues relating to the Internet. Yourself and Hon Steven Joyce delivered keynote addresses, and several other ministers and parliamentarians attended and participated in the discussions. Your speech was very well received. NetHui 2012 will take place from 11th to 13th July. We would very much like for you to again deliver a keynote address and shall liaise with your office about this possibility.

If you wish, I am available to meet to discuss these or any other issues relating to the Internet in New Zealand.

Yours sincerely,

Vikram Kumar
Chief Executive