Submissions: Telecommunications Amendment Bills

New Zealand is entering a defining moment in how we design and govern our digital and telecommunications systems; from how fibre networks are accessed and funded, to how overseas technology providers operate within our borders. These decisions shape who gets to build, connect, and participate in the economy for decades to come.

At RHC, we see digital infrastructure as far more than cables, spectrum, and platforms. It’s the nervous system of society that’s shaping creativity, commerce, community, and how people experience agency and opportunity in an increasingly non-physical world.

That’s why we have made formal submissions on two key telecommunications Bills currently before the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee.

You can download both submissions below:

Telecommunications Amendment Bill
Telecommunications and Other Matters Amendment Bill

We are now entering an era where technology is becoming lighter, faster, more decentralised, and more embedded in everyday life. Innovation no longer comes only from large institutions. True innovation is starting to emerge from small teams, creative founders, and networked communities operating across borders. The frameworks set today will either enable that to blossom or contain it.

Our submissions reflect a future-focused, systems-level perspective on how Aotearoa can remain open to bold ideas, ethical innovation, and global participation while protecting public trust, digital sovereignty, and long-term resilience.

If you’re building, governing, or imagining what comes next, this conversation belongs to you.