Here’s a heads up for those in New Zealand (or at least interested in New Zealand tech issues).

The TVNZ7 Internet Debate will be take place on 23rd September ( for those who can access it 9:10pm on TVNZ7)

This will be an organised debate on ICT issues, streamed live to the official website and TVNZ7’s site, directly from Avalon Studios.

The debate involves four politicians quizzed on major areas of ICT policy with questions coming from you through the online chat, a studio audience, and experienced journalists.

The politicians are Labour’s Minister of Communications Hon David Cunliffe, National ICT Spokesperson Hon Maurice Williamson, ACT Leader Hon Rodney Hide and Greens ICT Spokesperson Meteria Turei (and let’s face it – only the first two are of real interest to us – how much does Meteria really know about the issues)

You can participate live through an IRC channel or by posting your questions in the Geekzone forums – Geekzone have created a special ICT Policies and Regulation forum specially for the event. There you will find the discussions for each topic (direct links below) and you will be submit questions:

     * Broadband (includes infrastructure, productivity, sustainability)
     * Convergence (includes broadcasting and mobile)
     * Copyright (includes open source)
     * Cybersafety (includes privacy and security as well)
     * Digital Divide (includes rural and TSO as well)

Don’t let this one get away people – there’s lots of moaning about the state of tech in this (well that from where I am sitting right now) country – here’s an opportunity to lead the debate.

And congrats to Geekzone for being seen as the logical place to take part in this discussion.

Ben Kepes

Ben Kepes is a technology evangelist, an investor, a commentator and a business adviser. Ben covers the convergence of technology, mobile, ubiquity and agility, all enabled by the Cloud. His areas of interest extend to enterprise software, software integration, financial/accounting software, platforms and infrastructure as well as articulating technology simply for everyday users.

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