Antony Royal has been appointed director of 2degrees, following the resignation of Brian Leighs.

Royal is a trustee of Te Huarahi Tiki Trust and a director of its commercial arm the Hautaki Trust. The Trust was given a stake in 2degrees, partly in return for the radio spectrum it was allocated as part of a Treaty of Waitangi claim. In addition, it was recently disclosed that the Hautaki Trust has borrowed $2.6 million from 2degrees???s majority shareholder Trilogy International to maintain its stake in New Zealand???s third mobile operator.

Royal is also a member of Nga Pu Waea, the national Maori working group formed to advise on Maori interests and development opportunities in the governments broadband projects. Royal denies there is a conflict of interest in being a director of 2degrees and a member of Nga Pu Waea.