Board elections

InternetNZ holds an election each year to fill available board member positions. The InternetNZ Board works together to set the strategic direction of the organisation and provide oversight of management.

Our election process

Please refer to our 2026 Board elections page for details on the 2026 nominations.

Eligibility

Any Eligible Member can stand for election if they meet the requirements in the InternetNZ Constitution.

An Eligible Member is a current InternetNZ member who:

Has paid their membership fees in full by the respective due date
Has been a member for at least three months prior to the closing date of the nomination period. This is outlined in clause 2.6.3 of the Constitution.

The InternetNZ Constitution requires Eligible Members running for election to the InternetNZ Board to:

Be a natural person
Consent to be an officer of the Society, as defined in section 47 of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022
Certify they have not be disqualified from being elected under the Charities Act 2005 or the Incorporated Societies Act 2022
Have not already served the maximum term limit of 9 years, as outlined in 3.9.2 of the Constitution.

Each election, a Candidate Information Pack provides essential information about the nomination process, including current skills gaps, an overview of Board responsibilities, expectations, and key strategic themes. It also outlines the election timeline, candidate requirements, and campaign guidance.

Prior to being elected, the nominee must:

Confirm in writing that they are willing to serve as an officer, as defined in section 47 of the Incorporated Societies Act
Confirm they are not disqualified under section 47(3) of the Incorporated Societies Act or section 36B of the Charities Act.

Our candidate pack is available in PDF and Docx:

General nominations process

An Eligible Member can nominate another Eligible Member, or themselves, to stand for the InternetNZ Board.

All nominations must be submitted using the Board nomination form provided when nominations open.

If you would like to stand for election, you may self-nominate or be nominated by another Eligible Member in accordance with clause 3.8.3 of the Constitution.

After the nomination is submitted

The Returning Officer will contact the nominee to confirm their nomination and their consent to stand (if nominated by another Eligible Member).

Nominations will only be accepted once the nominee has confirmed, either verbally or in writing, their willingness to stand for election.

We will also contact the nominee to request:

Formal consents (including for police checks).
A recent photograph.
Written response (max 500 words total) to two questions.
1. Why are you interested in being a Board member for InternetNZ?
2. What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
A short video (optional) outlining what you hope to contribute and the value you bring to the role, if elected.

Candidate content guidelines for this election will be sent directly to nominees.

The candidate’s name will be published on the current Board Elections page once their profile materials have been received. All candidate profile materials will then be published together after nominations have closed.

Before election voting begins, the returning officer will inform all Eligible Members of the confirmed nominations, as stated in clause 3.8.6(d) of InternetNZ’s Constitution.

Privacy

We will protect the nominee's personal information in line with the Privacy Act 2020. Access to the nomination information will be limited to:

our staff supporting the election process (including background checks and onboarding),
any contracted third parties assisting with the election, and
the Returning Officer.

Note: The nominator’s full name will be publicly listed on our website with the nomination.

Information will be kept only as long as necessary to meet election and reporting requirements.

Voting

Who can vote

Eligible voters are those who have been members for at least three months at the time voting closes. They will receive voting instructions and credentials via email. If you have any questions, please contact us at: membership@internetnz.net.nz.

Voting process

This voting process will run via Electionz.com

InternetNZ uses the Single-Transferable Vote (STV) system. Under this system, voters rank candidates in order of preference. Our electoral system (explanation) page provides more information about how this system works, including how votes are counted and how elected candidates are determined.

If a candidate withdraws after voting has opened, their name will remain on the ballot but will be marked as “withdrawn.” Under the STV voting system, any preferences for that candidate will automatically transfer to the voter’s next ranked choice. Votes already cast cannot be changed or reissued, in order to maintain the integrity of the election process.

Election results

The final election results will be announced at our AGM.

Before the public announcement, the Returning Officer will contact all nominees by phone to share the results.

In some cases, interim results may be shared at the AGM, subject to confirmation following a review by an external scrutineer. The confirmed final results will be published as the official public record in our document library on our website.

Rules and guidelines

To understand the role and responsibilities of a board member:

Refer to the InternetNZ Constitution.
Review the Board Bylaws and Board Charter.
Note the duties listed in sections 54 to 60 of the Incorporated Societies Act.
InternetNZ Electoral System (Explanation)

Past elections

You can read more about a specific year's election.

Help

For all membership queries, please contact membership@internetnz.net.nz.

Get in touch

If you’ve got any more questions on our election process, the Returning Officer is more than happy to help out. Please email us to find out more.

The Returning Officer