SKY and Vodafone NZ issued an announcement to the New Zealand Stock Exchange detailing a proposed merger of our two businesses.

We’re proposing to bring together Vodafone and SKY to create a leading integrated telecommunications and media business in New Zealand.

The merger is all about creating the future, today. Vodafone and SKY already have a commercial relationship in place and when you look at the synergies of these two brands, we are excited about the opportunity to facilitate rapid innovation in the development and delivery of digital content.

A merger of the two businesses will occur, with SKY purchasing Vodafone NZ and Vodafone Europe B.V. becoming a majority (51%) shareholder of SKY – a publicly listed company.

The Combined Group will be one of the largest companies listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange – this will be one of the most significant transactions for the New Zealand business landscape within the last five years.

Woosh Wireless, the Auckland-based wireless broadband operator, has gone into voluntary administration.

The company was founded in 1999 and has burnt through more than $100 million since then. It was bought by California-based Craig Wireless for US$5 million in 2011. In August 2015 it sold its fixed line network of 9,000 customers to rival broadband operator, Slingshot.

"Woosh hasn't been trading profitably for some time and there have been some service issues for its 2,000 customers," Jackson said. "We are also mindful of the customers who rely on Woosh Wireless for their landline and broadband services, particularly those in remote parts of New Zealand".

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11644756

Just like the banks, most of our larger NZ ISPs are becoming Aussie owned.

Pioneers who built NZ’s third biggest telco and broadband provider sell to Aussie firm.
M2 is publicly listed on the ASX and has revenues in excess of A$1 billion.
M2 said it would continue to operate the business as a stand-alone company and retain the management including Callander, who commented things would be "business as usual" for the telco - which is made up of CallPlus Business, Slingshot, Orcon, Flip and 2talk.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11432076