Tuhoe

Tuhoe acknowledge that information, communication technology is a key enabler to social and economic development. These are tools the support the growth and maintenance of our language, culture and identity.

I represent the Tuhoe Education Authority(TEA), Te Whare Maire o Tuhoe, Anamata PTE, and Tuhoe Hauora who have developed their Communication Strategic Plan that aims at bringing Tuhoe together using the internet and Broadband WIFI technology. This strategy looks at addressing issues of Infra structure, Connectivity, Communications, Radio capability, Information sharing and archiving, Education, Social, Health and Economic development. Critical to the development of this strategy is access to spectrum and resourcing to establish it.

Over the past 2 years we have successfully deployed a WIFI Broadband network across half its rohe linking schools and community to each other and the internet world. We have recently been successful with a funding application to the Governments Broadband challenge strategy to expand this network across the Eastern Bay of Plenty region.

Tuhoe see itself as a service provider with its iwi as the primary target market and secondly anybody that is interested in the service and content that Tuhoe may provide.

In section 5 Maori Interests i would like to make these following comments;

7.1 We agree that we are interested as service consumers but more importantly our capacity to be service providers not only to meet government language strategic outcomes but our own Tuhoe language strategy. The allocation of 2.3 GHZ spectrum for language, culture and identity should be made.

7.2 Any precedents that have been set previously and enjoyed by other iwi in respect to allocation and resourcing should be fairly given to us. We believe we should not be penalised or treated unequally in this process.

7.3 This is a terrible decision?????/it sucks

7.4 I believe that these should be allocated to us at no cost with sufficient funding that is negotiable per allocation.

7.5 –

7.6 We have recognise this is a opportunity for Tuhoe and support the statements in this clause. Our concern is access to spectrum in order to take advantage of this technology wave.

7.7 Agree with this clause. ICT allows us to explore the realisation of many potentials within iwi.

7.8 What is important here is maori interest to meet maori as opposed to government interest. This leads iwi down a path of become agents of government designed outcomes which may have no value to supporting the iwi outcomes. The allocation model should be Iwi meeting Iwi interests, secondly government interests to meet Iwi objectives in considering allocation. What are identified positive outcomes for Iwi to realise their cultural, social, and economic potentials must be good for government interests.

Na Riaka