Treat connectivity like water, TUANZ says, to close the digital divide

New Zealand has built one of the world’s best connectivity networks. TUANZ’s argument, in its new Access and Inclusion position paper, is that the job is only half done: the next challenge is making sure everyone can access, afford and benefit from it.

The paper, released on 23 July 2026 as the sixth and final piece in the association’s 2026 policy series, lands alongside a summary report from the recent Connecting Aotearoa Summit. Its headline number is a proud one: 87 percent of New Zealanders can now reach ultra-fast fibre broadband. Its concern is what sits behind the average.

According to TUANZ, around one in ten households still have no internet at home, and the gap falls hardest on Māori, Pasifika, disabled people and low-income households. Rural communities keep paying more for fewer options than their city neighbours. Recent storms and natural disasters, the paper adds, have shown how much resilience matters when connectivity becomes a lifeline.

TUANZ Chief Executive Craig Young framed it as a shift in the country’s ambition. “Over the last two decades, New Zealand has made significant progress in building world-class digital infrastructure. The opportunity now is to ensure no community is left behind,” he said.

He put the stakes plainly. “Digital connectivity is no longer a luxury. It underpins education, healthcare, employment, business, emergency response and participation in modern society. If we want a more productive, resilient and inclusive New Zealand, we need to treat connectivity as essential infrastructure.”

The paper asks for action across four areas:

• Recognise connectivity as core infrastructure, on the same footing as electricity or water, prioritising resilience and equity over pure commercial return, with continued government investment to reach the last unserved households.
• Establish a National Connectivity and Resilience Register, built with industry, linking every address to its connection type and resilience profile so emergency help can be targeted and “not-spots” identified for investment.
• Co-design affordable connectivity for low-income households, which could include subsidised home and mobile data and a bulk-funding model for devices plus wrap-around skills support.
• Mandate “inclusive by design” for digital public services, so new builds such as Digital Identity carry a code of practice for inclusive use and keep non-digital pathways for people who are not ready to trust the technology.

Young argued the decisions made this decade will decide whether the country gets full value from what it has already built. “Closing the digital divide is about more than technology. It’s about ensuring every New Zealander has the opportunity to participate, contribute and thrive. By embedding inclusion, affordability and resilience into our approach today, we can create a stronger and more connected Aotearoa for generations to come.”

For the tech leaders who read AFQY, it is a familiar tension. The network is world-class, and the last mile is the hardest, because it is measured in people rather than premises.