The Technology Users Association (TUANZ) says the government needs to take the lead to address gaps in New Zealand's digital infrastructure and policy direction.TUANZ's latest report indicates 87 percent of New Zealanders had access to ultra-fast fibre broadband, but access wasn't shared equally, with one in 10 households having no internet access at home, and Māori, Pasifika, disabled people and low-income households disproportionately affected."Rural communities also continue to face higher costs and more limited connectivity options than their urban counterparts," TUANZ chief executive Craig Young said.The organisation's sixth and final paper on digital policy, released over the past six weeks, focuses on access and inclusion."Digital connectivity is no longer a luxury. It underpins education, healthcare, employment, business, emergency response and participation in modern society. If we want a more productive, resilient and inclusive New Zealand, we need to treat connectivity as essential infrastructure," Young said"Over the last two decades, New Zealand has made significant progress in building world-class digital infrastructure. The opportunity now is to ensure no community is left behind."TUANZ set out four key areas for action on connectivity:Recognise connectivity as core infrastructureEstablish a National Connectivity and Resilience RegisterCo-design affordable connectivity solutionsMandate inclusive design for digital public servicesYoung said TUANZ was keen to see recommendations set out in its policy papers used to inform a national digital strategy, which he said was currently missing from the government's portfolio of policies."There was work on one before this current government came in, and then those were quietly shelved," he said."That was one of their pillars in the Go for Growth document, but we've seen very little come out that on how they'll actually make that happen."Young said the lack of digital leadership was a common thread in its six policy papers."We really do not have an overarching direction on anything digital, whether it's connectivity, data transparency, whether it is AI."I mean, even the Australians are charging ahead of us, particularly around AI and regional connectivity-and we seem to be thinking that we can just either we think that everything's solved, and perhaps we think that Starlink is the solution to everything, which of course it's not, or that the the market will actually develop for New Zealand what it needs, but that doesn't work."