The evolution of telecommunications regulation in New Zealand

Abstract

Telecommunications technology is evolving, consumer preferences are changing, therefore the law that regulates the industry needs to adapt. Acknowledging this need for the law to keep up with ever-changing markets, policymakers in New Zealand recently concluded a statutory review into the Telecommunications Act 2001. The purpose of this research is to look at how, and why, New Zealand’s telecommunications regulatory framework is changing. This will involve initially explaining the most significant changes to the regime that have occurred in recent years, and providing some background information on the latest law reform. The aim of latter sections of this paper will be to identify how the proposed new regulatory regime for telecommunications might work in the future.