Free internet killing business

A Blenheim couple says foreigners should be banned from using the free internet at Blenheim library because it is putting their internet cafe business at risk.

Free wireless internet at the library is provided through the Aotearoa People's Network (APN), a collaboration between the National Library of New Zealand, public libraries and business.

Husband and wife Silvana Santiago and Paulo da Silva opened their internet cafe, Travelstop Cyber Centre, in 2005, but since the introduction of the network at the Blenheim library late last year their business has dropped dramatically.

The couple, who have a seven-month-old son, fear they will be forced to sell up by winter and have asked the Marlborough District Council, which runs the district's libraries, to limit free internet access to New Zealand citizens. Mr da Silva said the last month had been "terrible".

A Marlborough Libraries activities report showed wireless use increased in Blenheim from 535 sessions in November to 1151 sessions the following month.

Mr da Silva said he paid taxes and it was frustrating to see his money spent on something that was damaging his business.

"It's not right ... do you give (visitors) free food, free parking, free accommodation?"

However, in a report to the council's community and financial planning committee, the council's district solicitor, Peter Radich, said denying free internet access based on nationality would be violate the Human Rights Act.

Mr Radich found the council was "not in breach of any legal obligation in offering free internet access to all customers, whether they be New Zealanders or not".

Mrs Santiago said an impact evaluation report for the network showed six libraries in other parts of the country had already restricted use to New Zealand residents.

"Specifically, two libraries noted that their town had internet cafes located within a short distance and the APN free service was impacting on the local businesses," the report says.

The network's own guiding principles stated that New Zealanders would have free access to the internet, Mrs Santiago said.

"What I would like them to do is follow what the APN says; it's for New Zealanders."

The community and financial planning committee will meet on Monday to discuss the couple's request, with their decision to go before the full council on February 19.

However, the committee is likely to back a recommendation from Marlborough District Libraries manager Glenn Webster to turn down Mrs Santiago and Mr da Silva's request and continue to provide free internet to all library visitors.

Mr Webster said the library actively promoted local operators who provided a similar service if people were not willing to wait for the library's computers, which are limited to 30-minute sessions.

The libraries also had limited operating hours, especially during the weekend, compared to commercial operators, he said.

However, Mr da Silva said he had seen and photographed people accessing the internet remotely outside the library when it was closed over the Christmas and New Year holiday.

Hungarians Imre Kertesz and Gabor Racz were among several people using the free internet inside the library yesterday.

The men, who are on a six-month working holiday in Marlborough, said they came to the library with their laptops once every three days. "It's common for it to be free in Hungary, but this is the first place in New Zealand we've found it. We were so happy," Mr Racz said.

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