Questions for Political Parties for 1996 General Election

How do you view the Internet in the context of New Zealand's economic development?

What do you see as the future role of the Internet for New Zealand citizens? Should this role include access to public information? Does this role require universal access?

How would universal access be funded? Do you support an open,competitive environment for provision of Internet services? What steps would your party be prepared to take if there was a situation of monopoly or duopoly control of access which created restrictions to Internet access for sections of the population?

Do you support equal access to Internet services by school children? Ifso, how would you ensure this happens and existing inequalities are removed?

Do you think the "Information Society" will cause a re-evaluation of the role of "information professionals" such as teachers and librarians? What key changes do you see in these roles?

What is your policy on development of national public information networks in such areas as health, education, social welfare? Will this require that the Privacy Act be re-evaluated?

(Optional) What is your policy on cryptography regulation?

Do you support reframing regulations of existing New Zealand censorship measures to cover specific technologies such as the Internet?

Do you support such measures as software screening for parental control of access to on-line pornography, "black-listing" some sites, or "white-listing", that is, allowing access to approved sites on the Net only, for some institutions, or other user-based technology to screen out pornography?

Do you favour New Zealand taking a role in enhancing the use of the Internet to further democracy internationally eg by maintaining information data bases which may be accessed by less democratic countries?