Steven Joyce: focus is on fibre and investment

Clare Curran: Can the Minister confirm that by shifting from its pre-election policy of a single, regulated, utility model for delivering broadband to one that is regional, open, contestable, and technology-neutral, National has adopted Labour's broadband investment policy framework; if this is true, why did National not campaign for that rather than the opposite? Hon STEVEN JOYCE: There are a number of differences between the model we have adopted and the previous Government's Broadband Investment Fund. The first one is that this model is an investment, unlike the so-called Broadband Investment Fund, which was a grant; this model is directed at fibre technology, whereas the previous Government's model was a range of technologies; and this model is quite significantly larger than the one the previous Government planned. Allan Peachey: How will the Government choose who to partner with in each town and city? Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The Government is proposing to establish a Crown-owned investment company to drive the Government's investment. It will be up to this company to decide who to invest alongside in each town and city, bearing in mind the Government's objectives and principles. Clare Curran: Why is the Government setting its sights so low for private sector investment by requiring only $1 from the private sector for every dollar from its $1.5 billion investment, when Labour would have required up to double that? Is that not selling the project short, and should New Zealanders not be wondering whether they are getting the best bang for their buck? Hon STEVEN JOYCE: There is a difference between an investment and a grant. Grants do not require a return to the Crown, whereas investment does.