Econet network finally ready for prime time

A Maori-backed mobile phone network could be handling its first calls within 18 months.

Econet New Zealand yesterday signed a deal with Chinese equipment supplier Huawei for the infrastructure needed to have its service up and running in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch before the end of 2008.

Chairperson Bill Osborn says the company will change its name to New Zealand Communications.

Econet ran for the six years as a joint venture between African company Econet Wireless and Hautaki, the commercial arm of the Maori spectrum trust which has the right to buy a block of 3G spectrum on behalf of Maori.

Mr Osborn says the joint venture has now brought in Hong Kong and London-based investors who have the experience necessary to take on incumbents Telecom and Vodafone.

“It's never anticipated it was going to be an easy walk to completion. It’s a competitive environment, a very competitive environment, but we do think there’s an opportunity there for a player like us. The new investors have come into this game believing in the business plan and believing there is this opportunity so we are in the game,” Mr Osborn says.

Maori trusts and organisations will soon be given the chance to buy the 20 percent of the company reserved for them.

LOCAL VOTES UNLIKELY FROM MAORI

A Massey University researcher says young Maori are unlikely to vote at this year's local body elections.

Christine Cheyne yesterday told the Commonwealth local government research seminar in Auckland that young Maori feel disconnected from local body politics.

Dr Cheyne interviewed 400 randomly selected Wairarapa and Manawatu people on their knowledge of local government.

She says the lack of interest seems to cut both ways.

“There's a question about whether local government is relevant to people in the younger age group and whether local government is communicating well with those young people and finding out what their needs and perspectives are,” Dr Cheyne says.

People seem to start voting at local body level once they reach their forties.

WRITERS PRESSING THE FLESH ON THE BUS

Maori writers are in the South Island this week pressing the flesh and urging people to read their works.

The On the Bus tour takes Hinemoana Baker, James George, Kelly Ana Morey and Apirana Taylor from Nelson to Christchurch, visiting communities, schools, libraries and art galleries.

George, from Ngapuhi, says the profile of Maori writing is going up, as can be seen in any bookstore.

“If you were to go to the local Whitcoulls you would be able to pick six novels off the shelf by Maori writers. You couldn’t do that 12 years ago. You might find three. And I think that’s going to double again in the next 10 years. And it’s really just getting the word out, encouraging people first to listen to our stories and then to read the stories, to make that transference. But we’ve got to get out there, we’ve got to do the miles, we’ve got to press the flesh,” George says.

MAORI IN LINE TO BUY INTO MOBILE TELCO

Maori will shortly be given a chance to invest in the country's newest mobile phone network.

Econet New Zealand yesterday signed a deal with Chinese equipment supplier Huawei for the infrastruture needed to have GSM mobile coverage up and running in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch within 18 months.

So far the project has been a joint venture between African firm Econet Wireless and the Maori spectrum trust's commercial subsidiary, Hautaki Holdings.

Hautaki chairperson Bill Osborne says while new shareholders with experience building and running such networks have been brought in from London and Hong Kong, the project will still have a Maori flavour.

“Maori have secured an option to take equity in the business from the point of the closure of this deal. So that’s a real interesting opportunity for Maori and we’ll be talking that out to the Maori sector shortly,” Bill Osborne says.

He has been asked to stay on as chair of the company, which will be renamed New Zealand Communications.

COUNCILS NEED BETTER LINKS TO MAORI

A Massey University researcher says local governments needs to improve the way they interact with younger Maori.

Christine Cheyne says Maori feel disconnected from council processes and are unlikely to vote in local body elections.

Dr Cheyne says rangatahi are confused by the language used in local government circles and see few people their own age getting involved, so they get left out through little fault of their own.

“Too often the people who have concerns about voter turn-out focus on the deficits of the people who were not voting or not responding to opportunities for involvement rather than focusing on the organisations and the people who were doing the consulting or doing the engaging or organising the elections,” Dr Cheyne says.

Her study of political participation, which she delivered yesterday to a Commonwealth Local Government Research Seminar in Auckland, was based on interviews with 400 people in the Wairarapa and Manawatu.

INTERNET IDEAL FOR IWI OUTREACH

Iwi groups are being offered some simple strategies on using the internet more effectively.

Waikato University professor Ted Zorn says a research project on how information and communication technologies affect communities has led to a do-it-yourself manual called Connect Your Community: The New Zealand Webguide.

Professor Zorn says iwi are among the not-for profit groups who can use the Internet to get a lot of bang for limited bucks.

“Iwi groups, hapu groups, not for profit organisations, community groups, those are the kind of groups that can really take advantage of some of the ways that the web can be useful. Just for example Maori groups being dispersed in different places and people off the marae and making connections back to the marae,” Mr Zorn says.

The New Zealand Webguide is being distributed through regional Te Puni Kokiri offices, Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and public libraries.