Our plan 2026–27
Introduction
This is the first year of our new Strategy 2026-2031, (approved by the Board on 13 March 2026). This strategy is an integrated strategy of InternetNZ and the Domain Name Commission.
Our vision
The Internet in New Zealand is fair and inclusive, and where .nz is a trusted brand underpinning economic and social value for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our purpose
Ensure a trusted and thriving .nz, empowering us and others to advance an open, accessible global internet.
Our whakatauākī
Kua raranga tahi tātou he whāriki ipurangi mō āpōpō
Together, we have woven a digital mat for the future.
— Takawai Murphy (Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Hinekura), January 2017
Our strategic pillars
The 2026–31 strategy has at its heart a developmental flow. Building on service excellence and our organisational capability, we will grow in a way that is sustainable. This growth means we can resource and grow our social impact. We have four interconnected strategic pillars to guide our direction:
- Service excellence — reliable and trusted services that we are recognised for delivering.
- Organisational capability — strong and adaptable capabilities that enable us to respond in a fast-changing environment.
- Future sustainability and growth — a sustainable future built on responsible business growth.
- Social impact — an open, global Internet where everybody thrives.
The business plan for 2026–27 takes the first-year priorities from the five-year plan and represents them in a similar interdependent relationship to each other.
Our 2026–27 annual goals
Goal 1 — An open, interoperable Internet for all
|
Priorities |
Measures Accountability markers on progress towards annual goals |
Strategic pillar |
|
Global Internet governance. |
Visible leadership and participation in a Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism (TCCM) and ICANN processes. |
Social impact |
|
New Zealand Internet Community participation in InternetNZ multi-stakeholder processes. |
We provide opportunities for people to participate in multi-stakeholder processes (eg, .nz Rules consultation).
We support and identify a home for Māori Technical Community engagement in Internet governance. |
Social impact |
|
InternetNZ’s community impact is more visible and able to be measured consistently. |
A community impact evaluation framework is developed, tested with communities, and approved.
40% of community funding is provided to Māori entities and individuals. |
Social impact |
Goal 2 — Financial sustainability and growth
| Priorities | Measures | Strategic pillar |
|
Five-year financial management plan ensures long-term fiscal health. |
Plan developed and approved by the Board, and year one priorities implemented. |
Future sustainability & growth |
Goal 3 — Revenue/business growth
| Priorities | Measures | Strategic pillar |
| A business growth plan is developed, including new revenue and .nz domain name growth. | Increase by 5% domain name holders that purchase more than one .nz domain in this first year. | Future sustainability & growth |
| Active innovation pipeline for future products and initiatives. | Three new initiatives move through the innovation pipeline with finalised outcomes. | Future sustainability & growth |
Goal 4 — InternetNZ is highly trusted and known
| Priorities | Measures | Strategic pillar |
| Domain Name System (DNS) abuse strategy is in place. | The year one priorities of the DNS abuse strategy are implemented. (Registration Abuse) | Service excellence |
| Improving relationships with registrars throughout the customer journey. | Develop and implement a feedback mechanism with registrars. | Service excellence |
| Review and refresh InternetNZ identity and brand. | A brand audit is delivered, and a three-year roadmap for implementing the identity/brand refresh is developed and approved. Year one priorities are implemented. | Service excellence |
Goal 5 — Excellence in .nz operations
| Priorities | Measures | Strategic pillar |
|
.nz operations.
|
100% DNS availability. |
Service excellence |
| Five-year product infrastructure strategy |
Product strategy is developed and approved by the Board. |
Service excellence |
|
HSM deployment. |
Milestones on hardware rollout are met. |
Service excellence |
Goal 6 — The InternetNZ Group Workforce strategy is in place to enable implementation of the business strategy
| Priorities | Measures | Strategic pillar |
| A workforce strategy defines the skills we need to support the five-year strategy. | A workforce strategy is developed and integrated with our business strategy. | Organisational capability |
| Ngā uara (our values) are evident in how we work. |
Ngā uara are integrated into our systems — Performance development plans, key ceremonies, including quarterly planning, and a kaimahi survey that establishes a baseline on kaimahi views on ngā uara. |
Organisational capability |
| Māori cultural capability uplift. | Four new initiatives to support Māori cultural capability are in place. | Organisational capability |