Opposition party plans to build open-access fibre-to-the-home network for all of New Zealand

The party says its vision for the medium- to long-term is for a fibre connection to almost every New Zealand home. Given the geographically challenging nature and limited population density in much of New Zealand (especially the South Island) this is quite a claim. However, National party spokespersons insist that the vision could be realised by pressing other technologies such as "satellite and mobile solutions" into use.

The centre-right National Party (or The Nats as they are more commonly known) is New Zealand's second-biggest political party in terms of seats held and, as such, effectively forms the core of the parliamentary opposition.

With a General Election due to be held this year, the party is promising that if it were to form a government one of its primary focuses would be to accelerate the roll-out of fibre the home of 75 per cent of all New Zealanders. It says that in the first six years of a decade-long programme, the priority will on deploying fibre to business premises, schools, health facilities, and "some" homes.

The Nats also say they would double the New Zealand's "Broadband Challenge Fund" to NZD 48 million and refocus it on rural and remote areas.