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Good evening,

You are here because we share a common belief – that cyber security is a critical issue for New Zealand.

I want to start out by saying that the Government is as committed to a secure, resilient and prosperous online New Zealand as you are.

And I’m here tonight to announce a step-change in the way we combat cyber threats.

Agencies are taking steps to ensure an effective response to the growing problem of cybercrime with the establishment of a new interagency cybercrime plan.

“In a changing world where online security is an issue, we need to be on the front foot against cybercrime” says Justice and Communications Minister Amy Adams.

The cybercrime plan is part of the Government’s refreshed Cyber Security Strategy, launched in Auckland today by Ms Adams.

Ensuring New Zealanders are safe, resilient and prosperous online is at the heart of the Government’s refreshed national Cyber Security Strategy launched today.

The strategy was launched by Communications Minister Amy Adams with an Action Plan and a National Plan to Address Cybercrime

“The Government is building infrastructure and investing $2 billion into our Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiative programmes because we want New Zealanders to engage in the digital economy,” says Ms Adams.

New Zealand businesses with good cyber security practices could receive a “cyber security tick”, as part of a suite of initiatives to help protect small businesses against cyber attacks.

The cyber credentials scheme is just one initiative proposed in the Government’s new Cyber Security Strategy and Action Plan.

The Ultra-Fast Broadband initiative has been rolled out to at least 200,000 businesses across New Zealand – ahead of schedule and within budget.

“In 2009, the Government promised to make businesses a top priority for delivery of UFB,” says Communications Minister Amy Adams.

“We’ve met that goal two months earlier than we hoped, which means more New Zealand entrepreneurs and operators can connect to speeds of at least 100 Mbps.”

Communications Minister Amy Adams was in Masterton today to announce the completion of the town’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) build.

More than 9500 homes and business in Masterton are now able to connect to ultra-fast internet using our world class fibre-to-the-premise network. All 21 schools in the Masterton area are now able to connect to fibre through the UFB and rural broadband programmes.

“Access to faster, more reliable broadband will open up an array of opportunities for the Masterton community,” says Ms Adams.

Greymouth has become the twelfth New Zealand town to be fully-fibred under the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband programme, Communications Minister Amy Adams announced today.

“Around 4000 homes, businesses, schools and health facilities in Greymouth are now able to connect to ultra-fast internet using our world class fibre-to-the-premise network,” says Ms Adams. 

More than 133,000 homes and businesses have now connected to the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) programme as the build gathers pace, Communications Minister Amy Adams announced today.

The September 2015 quarterly report for the first phase of UFB shows almost 56 per cent of the build is complete and more than 815,000 homes, schools and workplaces can now connect to the network.

Connectivity is growing rapidly in the regions with more New Zealanders than ever before now able to access faster rural broadband, Communications Minister Amy Adams says.

The latest quarterly report for phase one of the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) build as at 30 September 2015 shows 271,000 rural addresses can connect to the network.

“With 35.6 per cent uptake across the network, RBI is making sure that New Zealanders living in our rural and remote areas can enjoy the benefits of faster, better internet,” Ms Adams says.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Communications Minister Amy Adams have announced that all rural public hospitals and integrated family health centres now have access to high speed broadband.

The 39 hospitals and integrated family health centres identified by DHBs as candidates for the Government’s Rural Broadband Initiative are now all able to connect to fibre capable of peak speeds of at least 100 Mbps.

Opening remarks

APEC TEL Chair Mr Andrey Mukhanov, Vice Chair Mr Morris Lin, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s a privilege to once more welcome you here to Auckland New Zealand, for 52nd Meeting of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group.

Some of you may be aware that this is the second time APEC TEL has met in Auckland – the first was in 2006.

APEC represents a regional bloc of considerable economic and political significance to New Zealand. 

Communications Minister Amy Adams and Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell have announced eight appointees to the Māori ICT Development Fund Expert Advisory Group.

In Budget 2014, the Government allocated $30 million for a Māori ICT Development Fund to support Māori economic development and support access to Māori language and culture through digital literacy initiatives.

Recognising the ever-increasing demand for high-speed broadband across New Zealand, and its importance to regional growth, the Government has today announced a bold new connectivity target for areas outside the UFB footprint.

Under this target virtually all New Zealanders, regardless of where they live or work, will be able to access broadband at peak speeds of at least 50 Mbps by 2025, Communications Minister Amy Adams has announced.

Changes to modernise and streamline the National Environmental Standard (NES) for telecommunications facilities will speed up improvements and reduce costs for consumers, Communications Minister Amy Adams and Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today at the Resource Management Law Association conference.

Communications Minister Amy Adams leaves for India today to lead a New Zealand CleanTech business delegation.

The Minister will visit Bangalore for business and state government meetings before travelling to New Delhi for the Renewable Energy India Expo. In Delhi the Minister will also meet senior Indian Ministers.

“This visit is an opportunity to enhance trade and business links between India and New Zealand while showcasing our innovative technology in the CleanTech and renewable energy sectors,” Ms Adams says.

Communications Minister Amy Adams today launched a discussion paper to look at ways to future-proof New Zealand’s communications regulation.

The discussion paper Regulating communications for the future continues the Government’s review of the Telecommunications Act 2001 and seeks views on a range of options for communications regulation post 2020.

Communications Minister Amy Adams will today release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the next stage of rolling out fast, reliable broadband to New Zealanders.

“Four and a half years after the first fibre trench was dug in Whangarei, the Government’s world-leading Ultra-Fast Broadband initiative is more than 50 per cent complete with around 750,000 Kiwis already able to connect to faster, more reliable broadband,” says Ms Adams.

Justice, Communications and Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams has released a discussion document looking at whether policy and regulatory frameworks are fit for purpose in the current New Zealand media landscape.

The paper titled Content Regulation in a Converged World focuses on the merging of previously distinct broadcasting industries which has produced a lack of clarity around the classification of content, advertising restrictions, and rules around election programmes during general elections.

Communications and Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams today launched a Green Paper and work programme outlining the Government’s response to the challenges and opportunities of a converged world.

The Exploring Digital Convergence Green Paper provides an overarching view of the cross-government convergence work programme and sparks a discussion of the impact convergence is having on New Zealand’s regulatory settings.

High speed broadband and mobile connectivity is supporting regional growth and innovation across New Zealand, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Communications Minister Amy Adams say.

The Ministers have released the latest regional broadband snapshots today which highlight the deployment progress of the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) across each New Zealand region. They show steady progress in build and uptake across the programmes.

Local authorities have four more weeks to submit a digital enablement plan outlining how they will take advantage of new investment from the Government’s broadband extension, Communications Minister Amy Adams says.

Councils have been asked to identify projects that will promote the uptake and benefits of the next phase of the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) in their communities.

The Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) build and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) are together already providing nearly one million New Zealand premises with better connectivity, Communications Minister Amy Adams says.

The latest quarterly report for phase one of the UFB and RBI builds as at 30 June 2015 shows 724,000 homes, schools and workplaces can now connect to UFB. More than 269,000 rural addresses are now able to connect to RBI.

Communications Minister Amy Adams has acknowledged six New Zealand companies which have been selected as finalists in this year’s World Summit Awards for creativity and innovation in ICT.

The awards are a global showcase of 40 projects, across eight categories, with a special emphasis on those which show the benefits of information and communication technology for the development of communities.

New Zealand has finalists in six of the eight categories. Those are Figure.NZ, ARANZ Medical, Pond, Ngā Tapuwae Gallipoli, Wipster and Attitude Live.

Communications Minister Amy Adams today launched a new online map that will allow New Zealanders to source the best broadband options available to them at their home or business.

“Access to fast speed internet is a critical enabler for the economy. Kiwis are now looking to have access to information anywhere, anytime and anyhow,” Ms Adams says.