Backing for fibre amid complaints

Communications Minister Kris Faafoi says allegations of improper practices, including bribery, in the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband are concerning and the Government will be following investigations by network company Chorus with interest.

But Faafoi said the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment had ‘‘full confidence’’ in the model building the ‘‘core’’ ultra-fast broadband network.

On Monday, Chorus and its main contractor Visionstream said they were investigating allegations ranging from conflicts among some staff to a suspicion of bribery.

Chorus spokesman Ian Bonnar has said some of the allegations relate to wider concerns about the overall subcontracting model.

Chorus relies on a network of about 4000 contractors and subcontractors to build and maintain its broadband networks.

But that model has come under fierce criticism from union E tu¯ after the Labour Inspectorate reported widespread breaches of employment law.

Spark spokesman Andrew Pirie said the latest allegations signalled there might be ‘‘some issues that need to be looked at more closely’’.

But the contracting model had been ‘‘effective in the industry to a large degree’’, he said.

Graham Mitchell, chief executive of Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP), which is overseeing the Government’s investment in UFB, said it was surprised by the allegations.

But he said the contracting arrangement between CIP and Chorus was fit for purpose and had proven successful.