ICT Minister Steven Joyce has declined to approve Chorus’ open access deed, giving the company just a few weeks to revise the document before shareholders in parent company Telecom vote on a demerger of the two branches.

The open access deed sets the terms under which Chorus will provide retailers with access to its copper network.

Joyce says in its current form the deed does not meet the requirements as set out in the amended Telecommunications Act 2001.

"We need to get the deeds of undertaking right,” Joyce says, "while at the same time recognising the changes that will occur from the structural separation of Telecom.”

The deed was submitted for public responses on July 22.

"I have asked Chorus to improve transparency in the deed, particularly in relation to the disclosure of information to the Commerce Commission,” Joyce says.

"As requested by many submitters, I have also asked Chorus to provide more transparency as to how the contract between Crown Fibre Holdings and Chorus will interact with the deed.”

Chorus is working with the Ministry of Economic Development to submit a revised deed, with the goal of doing so by October 21. This is just five days before Telecom shareholders vote on a demerger from Chorus at the company’s AGM, on October 26.