Coronavirus: Covid-19 exposes digital divide, internet have-nots further cut off

Thursday, 27 August 2020

The coronavirus lockdown has brought to the fore disparities between people and communities that do and don't have access to the internet. (File photo)

Kris Faafoi says Covid-19 has highlighted the digital divide between New Zealanders who do and don’t have internet access and the technology needed to communicate and secure essential services.

The Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media’s comments follow calls from the Auckland Council’s Southern Initiative for the government to come to the table and support homes in some of south Auckland’s poorest suburbs that don’t have internet access.

Southern Initiative’s Tania Pouwhare said one in every five homes in Māngere, Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara and Papatoetoe are currently not connected to the internet and many of the remaining households are only connected via their mobile phones.

“Around the world digital access is now considered a basic utility, like power, sanitation and water,” Pouwhare said. “What we don’t want to see is south Auckland being left behind once again because people can’t afford the technology.

“If we don’t, all we’re doing is widening the inequality gap. Because if we’re left behind in technology, we’re left behind in the future.”

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Labour MP and minister Kris Faafoi says Covid-19 has highlighted the digital divide between New Zealanders who do and don’t have internet access.

“If we don’t, all we’re doing is widening the inequality gap. Because if we’re left behind in technology, we’re left behind in the future.”

Faafoi said he was aware of the issues raised by the Southern Initiative and has concerns about the barriers some New Zealanders face when it comes to being able to access broadband services and having the skills necessary to navigate the online world for work, services and learning.

“Māori and Pasifika people, the elderly, those living in social housing, unemployed people, disabled individuals and those living in rural areas are more likely to be digitally excluded and more likely to face other barriers to wellbeing than the general population.”

Faafoi said Covid-19 highlighted the reality of the digital divide for some New Zealanders who struggled to connect with others to communicate and get access to essential services.

South Auckland principal Haley Milne discovered that 97 per cent of her school's students couldn't access the internet during lockdown.

“In response, I have asked my officials to work collaboratively across Government agencies, industry and the community to develop a long term solution to digital equity in New Zealand and this is outlined in the newly launched Digital Inclusion Action Plan 2020 – 2021,” he said.

“I am particularly interested in developing a long term solution to this problem which takes into account affordability of connections and devices.”

Last year the Department of Internal Affairs released its Digital Inclusion Blueprint. The report said the internet had become part of the fabric of everyday life for most New Zealanders.

“As more key services move online, people who can’t access or use the internet are increasingly missing out. For example, some can’t easily apply for jobs because many recruitment processes start online, and others could feel isolated from more digitally savvy friends and family who communicate using social media.”

The report said overseas studies show a lack of digital inclusion “leads to diminished wellbeing and opportunity, and other forms of deprivation”.

“Research shows that Māori are also less likely to be digitally included than the wider population. It is important to understand the barriers that Māori communities and organisations, iwi, hāpu and whānau face, and work with them to design solutions. Te Whata Kōrero is the starting point for our work together.”

Faafoi highlighted a number of programmes that have already been launched to try and address the problem.

The Ministry of Education has partnered with internet service providers to provide broadband to 50,000 students without access to such services. While the Ministry of Social Development and the Office for Seniors partnered with Nokia to fund digital skills and literacy training for Pacific seniors.

And in May the Tertiary Education Commission announced a new $20 million technology access fund for tertiary students. While the government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband programme (UFB) is delivering fibre to households, businesses, schools and health centres.

Pouwhare said she supports the changes the government has introduced as part of its 2020 Digital Inclusion Action Plan, but she said more change is needed in south Auckland.

“We still need to address the cost of broadband and that’s a wider discussion around how the market works. Because it’s the cost of broadband that’s the problem and once people go over their data cap it becomes more expensive,” she said.

“And we also think there’s a need for more cooperatively owned services.”

For her the time to act is now.

“This is a problem we can solve.”