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FEBRUARY <strong>15</strong>, <strong>2017</strong><br />
Businesslink<br />
17<br />
Have your say on<br />
fixed line services<br />
Communications Minister Simon Bridges<br />
has confirmed details of the government’s<br />
new approach to regulating fixed line<br />
communications services from 2020, and<br />
released a consultation paper which seeks feedback<br />
on the regulation of the copper network.<br />
“We need a modern communications regime<br />
that reflects our increasingly digital world and that<br />
delivers better broadband for New Zealanders. The<br />
new regime is designed to provide long-term certainty<br />
for the sector, and to support ongoing innovation<br />
and investment. Ultimately, this will result in better<br />
services for consumers, with consistently improving<br />
broadband speeds and quality at competitive prices,”<br />
he said.<br />
Option Papers<br />
The Government released an options paper in July<br />
2016, with details of the new ‘Utility-Style’ regime<br />
for fixed line communications services provided on<br />
the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) network and Chorus’<br />
copper network.<br />
“We received a range of feedback from industry<br />
and consumer groups about how the new regime<br />
would work in practice and can now confirm the<br />
details of our reform package for the UFB network,<br />
which will be implemented from 2020,” Mr Bridges<br />
said.<br />
“Following further consideration and analysis,<br />
we have decided to take a different approach to the<br />
regulation of copper services, and focus the new regulations<br />
primarily on New Zealand’s fibre network. We<br />
are seeking feedback on this proposal and on changes<br />
to the Telecommunications Service Obligation (TSO)<br />
through the consultation document released today,”<br />
he said.<br />
In areas where UFB or other fibre is available, the<br />
government is proposing to deregulate the copper<br />
network from 2020 and remove the TSO obligation.<br />
In areas where UFB or other fibre is not available,<br />
the TSO obligation will be retained and Chorus will<br />
be required to continue supplying copper services<br />
at prices capped at 2019 levels. This will ensure<br />
consumers continue to have access to basic services<br />
at competitive prices, even when alternative networks<br />
are not available.<br />
Submissions on the consultation paper close<br />
on March 1, <strong>2017</strong>. For more detail and to make a<br />
submission visit www.mbie.govt.nz/telcoreview.<br />
Public opinion sought<br />
on Local Alcohol Policy<br />
Progress on the Provisional Auckland Council<br />
Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) continues this<br />
month with dates now set for formal appeal<br />
hearings.<br />
The Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority<br />
(ARLA) will hold public hearings at the Auckland<br />
District Court over three weeks, commencing on<br />
Monday, <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 13.<br />
Auckland Council welcomes this announcement as<br />
once in force, the LAP will be a key tool for the Council<br />
to help minimise alcohol-related harm across the region.<br />
Local policies<br />
Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012,<br />
Councils can develop an LAP to establish local policy<br />
on licensing matters such as the location, density and<br />
trading hours of licensed premises.<br />
An LAP can influence where new alcohol licenses are<br />
allowed to establish; how many new alcohol licenses are<br />
allowed; when bars, restaurants and nightclubs can sell<br />
alcohol; when bottle shops and supermarkets can sell<br />
alcohol; and when clubs (e.g. sports clubs, RSAs) can<br />
sell alcohol.<br />
The Provisional Auckland Council Local Alcohol<br />
Policy includes regional policies as well as some special<br />
rules for the City Centre and suburbs experiencing<br />
higher levels of alcohol-related harm, referred to in the<br />
policy as Priority Overlay areas.<br />
Auckland Council consulted on its draft policy in<br />
2014 and considered 2693 written submissions and over<br />
100 oral submissions before the adopting the provisional<br />
policy in May 20<strong>15</strong>.<br />
Some organisations appealed against the provisional<br />
policy after it was adopted.<br />
The legal hearing process means appellants,<br />
registered interested parties and the Council can present<br />
their views on the provisional LAP before ARLA makes<br />
a final decision.<br />
The Council is restricted from providing public<br />
comment regarding the appeals while they are before<br />
the court.<br />
To read the full Provisional Auckland Council Local<br />
Alcohol Policy document and view the Priority Area<br />
maps, visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz and search ‘Local<br />
Alcohol Policy.’<br />
Auckland Council Press Release<br />
National Budget Day set for May 25<br />
Steven Joyce will present his first budget as<br />
Finance Minister on Thursday, May 25,<br />
<strong>2017</strong>.<br />
In announcement made last fortnight in<br />
Wellington, he promised that the Budge would be<br />
‘centred on providing opportunities for all Kiwis<br />
to get ahead.’<br />
This would be the Ninth annual budget of the<br />
National government since November 2008.<br />
“Budget <strong>2017</strong> will build on the strengthening<br />
performance of the New Zealand economy over<br />
the last several years. It will focus on creating the<br />
conditions for further growth and greater prosperity<br />
for all New Zealanders,” Mr Joyce said.<br />
Job Creation<br />
“New Zealand businesses have generated<br />
328,000 new jobs since 2008, and average weekly<br />
wages have grown by 26.1% more than double<br />
the rate of inflation. Budget <strong>2017</strong> will seek to give<br />
businesses the confidence to keep investing and<br />
keep growing, to provide more opportunities for<br />
New Zealand families,” he added.<br />
A key element of the Budget will involve<br />
Steven Joyce<br />
KANWALJIT SINGHBAKSHI<br />
LIST MP BASEDINMANUKAU EAST<br />
GREETINGSTOTHE COMMUNITY ON<br />
BIRTHDAY OF GURU RAVIDAS<br />
KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI<br />
A<br />
P<br />
F<br />
W<br />
E<br />
1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland<br />
09 278 9302<br />
09 278 2143<br />
www.bakshi.co.nz<br />
Bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz<br />
facebook.com/Bakshiks<br />
@bakshiks<br />
Funded bythe Parliamentary Service and authorised<br />
by Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP, 1/131 Kolmar Road,<br />
Papatoetoe<br />
investing in the public services and building<br />
the infrastructure for a growing New Zealand.<br />
Mr Joyce said that as the economy grows,<br />
the government would have a little more<br />
headroom to invest in better public services.<br />
However, the focus would be on achieving<br />
better results, and not just tipping in more<br />
taxpayers money, he said.<br />
Careful spending<br />
“It is also very important to remain mindful<br />
that the money the Government spends comes<br />
from hard working Kiwi families. We remain<br />
committed to reducing the tax burden on<br />
lower and middle income earners when we<br />
have the room to do so,” Mr Joyce said.<br />
He said that the Budget will continue<br />
a relentless focus on reducing debt as a<br />
percentage of GDP.<br />
“A key part of building a resilient economy<br />
is creating the necessary buffers to deal with<br />
the next economic shock. The Government<br />
remains committed to its target of reducing net<br />
debt to 20 per cent of GDP by 2020-2021
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