Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa

Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa (Te Korowai) adorns InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa, guiding how we enliven Te Tiriti o Waitangi and inspiring our collective aspiration to serve all of Aotearoa with courage, integrity and distinction.

Like a finely woven korowai (cloak), it conveys messages of protection and leadership, and reflects the history of the organisation, its people, and its legacy.

As the domain name administrator, we have a unique role to manage the .nz domain name space for the benefit of all of Aotearoa. InternetNZ’s responsibility is one of stewardship and accountability to all people, acknowledging the significance of Māori as tangata whenua.

We serve our communities by operating .nz in a respectful and inclusive way, so all New Zealanders can connect and thrive online. Māori, as tangata whenua, are an integral part of the community we are mandated to serve.

Korowai: A korowai is a traditional woven kākahu (cloak) that is variously decorated with history, messages of protection, leadership and genealogy. Korowai would adorn leaders and be treasured by whānau, hapū and iwi inherited by descendants and or gifted to esteemed relationships.

The weaving of Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa

InternetNZ Board members, past and present, recall discussions about Te Tiriti o Waitangi within InternetNZ over the last decade.
 
In 2022, the O’Regan Report created momentum within InternetNZ, with recommendations focused on systemic change and stronger alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

In 2024–25, a constitutional review implemented those recommendations, supporting InternetNZ’s transition to a new framework, supported by a suite of documents that enliven Te Tiriti within the organisation. The constitutional review raised the question: 'What does it mean to be Te Tiriti centric?'.

Te Korowai was developed to help answer this question and to further the work of ensuring Māori are recognised as tangata whenua within the core work of InternetNZ.

The meaning behind the name

Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa is a name and a concept given by Te Puni Māori to encapsulate the way in which Te Tiriti o Waitangi wraps around all citizens of Aotearoa like a cloak to adorn them with the rich history, promises and commitments tangata whenua and tangata tiriti made to each other at the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840.

Just like a korowai, this work adorns InternetNZ with rich history, and the promises and commitments that support an Internet for all of Aotearoa. It reflects Te Tiriti o Waitangi in what we do, not driven by obligation but by opportunity and social responsibility.

This opportunity to lead reflects the idea that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not only an arrangement between Māori and the Crown, but also a blueprint for how we want to be as a country.
 
Te Korowai was woven in collaboration with the InternetNZ and Domain Name Commission Boards, with special guidance from Te Komiti Whakauru Māori and InternetNZ kaimahi. Te Amokura Consultancy provided the methodology and facilitated many hui through 2025.

Te Puni Māori: a team within InternetNZ, leads the organisation’s work of building capability to operate in te ao Māori and embedding te ao Māori into its core work.

Te Korowai becomes part of our core document suite

The InternetNZ Constitution, approved by membership at the Special General Meeting in April 2025, is the foundational document for InternetNZ, and sets out the roles and responsibilities for our governance and membership.
 
Three documents in our core suite each serve a different purpose and, together, help support understanding and put the Constitution into practice.

• Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa provides guidance on how we enliven Te Tiriti o Waitangi within InternetNZ and inspires our shared aspiration to serve all of Aotearoa with courage, integrity and distinction within our constitutional remit.
• Ngā Uara, our values, are the behaviours and ways of working that also serve to bring Te Korowai to life every day, shaping how we relate to each other, our members and the communities we serve.
• InternetNZ Group Strategy 2026–2031 is our roadmap for giving effect to our purpose over a defined period of time. It sets out the Boards' priorities and direction to ensure the Internet benefits all of Aotearoa.

Te Korowai provides an accountability thread across all these core documents, grounded in the Constitution and extending through our values, our relationships, and the goals set out in the Strategy.

 

Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa is grounded in the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi

What kāwanatanga means to us: 

Kāwanatanga, in our context, describes the concept of governance. It relates to the Boards’ obligations to provide good governance for InternetNZ as a whole, and to act reasonably and in good faith.

Good governance is an expression of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Te Tiriti relationship, and extends to how the InternetNZ Group works with Māori, including Board Directors, staff, partners, and stakeholders. In applying kāwanatanga, the Boards will practice the tikanga associated with the InternetNZ Group.

InternetNZ is committed to ensuring that the Boards have Māori representation, and maintain strong relationships with Māori, to support robust decision-making.

Kāwanatanga also means the InternetNZ and Domain Name Commission Boards provide input and advice to the Group CEO on senior Māori leadership roles within InternetNZ.

What tino rangatiratanga means to us: 

InternetNZ recognises that tino rangatiratanga rests with Māori. In acknowledging this, we commit to creating and maintaining strong relationships with Māori.

We will continue to support opportunities for Māori perspectives within the domain name ecosystem, both locally and globally. We will enable and support Māori to express tino rangatiratanga within the domain name space including exploring how the .nz domain name space responds to taonga Māori and matters of significance to Māori.

We will also support opportunities for tino rangatiratanga through Māori-identified and Māori-led initiatives that align with InternetNZ’s strategy and goals.

InternetNZ acknowledges te reo Māori, tikanga and mātauranga Māori as taonga under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We are committed to protecting these taonga as they arise within the organisation, guided by senior Māori expertise.

What ngā tikanga rite tahi means to us: 

Ngā tikanga rite tahi states that “the rights and privileges of citizenship” promise equity and equality as fundamental rights for all.

InternetNZ will provide targeted funding, resources, and development opportunities for Māori and other marginalised groups in Aotearoa to support progress toward digital equity and equality.

We are committed to improving access for all communities by developing focused strategies that enable us to serve all users and members of the .nz domain.

What ngā ritenga Māori me ngā whakapono katoa means to us:

Tikanga Māori is at the heart of how we operate, including how we respect and honour Māori practices.

InternetNZ will develop clear tikanga for key organisational ceremonies and milestones, and set expectations to guide the organisation in positive and uplifting ways.

Guided by tikanga Māori, the organisation will also welcome and support the expression of other cultures’ practices and beliefs.

Click here for Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa as a PDF [120kB].