I happen to agree with Potaua. I guess how I look at the ‘but for’ test is this – Do we look at the resources (air) that the governments (tribes) had in 1939. ie the air was there and if ACT was in power they would have taxed us for the use of it, on a user pays basis. Therefore it is a Taonga?
Or (without going into the rip offs that occurred), is it like sale of a block of land only to find gold or oil underneath (or new tech that makes air rights saleable) where the former owner has relinquished these rights upon sale?

Please enlighten us as to your reasons Trevor (popular opinion I guess is one)

Looks more like a case of nothing for Maori, hundreds of millions to National and ongoing millions to the likes of Rupert Murdoch.

There are many examples of Maori-owned internet providers, regional tv owners and producers, owning satellite coverage, owning backhaul, so the range of expertise exists.

And while you may think Maori have no right, well, spectrum is as natural to Aotearoa as the mountains. It was not introduced, it has always been here. The origins of spectrum are unique and natural to the lands, the air and the sky that echo back and forward all around us. The Treaty of Waitangi protected taonga and for me, spectrum is clearly a taonga.

If the Government sees fit to make millions by selling to international businesses, that’s fine. Don’t, however, expect Maori to say nothing as a massive portion of digital real estate is sold. There are many, many opportunities to develop and innovate and after 6 months of attending meetings, can see many groups are not happy with the auctions.

Poor regulation is being forced by poor policy, all the while trying to make a few people extremely rich. Spectrum is extremely important to our economy and for our daily lives, especially with DSO looming, so at least Maori are making the point to highlight what is happening right under the nose of the public.

So, I totally support the case.

Telecom and Vodafone essentially have also stone-walled and are being obstructive to prevent any additional players entering the market – proof of this is the termination rates of 9 cents per text and 15 cents per minute for phone calls. Break the termination rates and you open up the technology.

Capitalism does indeed facilitate technology – but of course NZ is way too small to develop the technologies locally – we can only ride of the back of the technological advances developed elsewhere throughout the world.

Draco – you demonstrate your ignorance. The mobile phone market in NZ is worth about $2.2b per annum. NZ has the highest charge rates in the worked (before 2degrees we were the second highest in the OECD is some categories.) Telecom and Vodafone have been gouging the market. The entry of 2degrees has already significantly reduced the costs of the pre-pay market down as low as 22 cents per minute instead of the 89 cents per minute charged by Telecom and Vodafone – The consumer is the winner.