2020 Council elections

I’m standing for Councillor because I want to make a real contribution to this really important organisation.

We’re thinking about community a lot at the moment. I think InternetNZ can take steps to discover new ways for its community to work together:

• Our community could grow – our membership is quite small! It would be wonderful to bring more voices into the InternetNZ room.
• I’ll be a bridge between members and Council, promoting strategies that create a safe space (e.g. NetHui) for diverse voices to contribute to the discussion, and adapt to our new global circumstances.

How would I do this?

• Bringing direct in-depth experience and knowledge of public, private and NGO sectors’ use of the internet to the table
• Being able to see the big strategic picture, and real life for internet users
• As a pragmatic, tenacious operator, getting things done and solving problems
• Abundant business and personal networks to connect with.

Hello everyone, my name is Ben Bradshaw and I am putting my name forward for the InternetNZ Council elections. I appreciate this opportunity and the time you're taking to read this.

I've been a member of InternetNZ since 2015 but I first came across the organisation in 2008 during the Section 92A protests and their success. Back then I was very new to the Wellington IT industry and since then I've had the privilege of working and volunteering with some amazing people. 

These days I work as a Software Developer at Catalyst IT which has instilled in me an appreciation for Open Source and the generosity of the community that shares their hard work with the world. I have been involved in the discussions InternetNZ have facilitated around contact tracing and the privacy and health implications of the different approaches.

I know in the next few years we are going to have some important discussions as a country about privacy, public safety, censorship, and data sovereignty. We will also be bringing more attention to issues faced by Māori and other communities and while I am not a member of these communities I can commit to listen and learn.

During COVID-19 we used the Internet to work, connect with family and friends and tried to live our lives as best as we could. The Internet is an essential service, just like power and clean water and it's critical that it remain open, secure and accessible to all.

Thank you all,

Ben

Kia ora! My name is Kelly Buehler, and I’m pleased to be standing for the InternetNZ Council. In the past I have spent four years on the InternetNZ Council, and I feel I have more to add. As a long-time member of InternetNZ, I believe in the work InternetNZ does. To me, there is little as important to New Zealand as an “open and uncapturable” internet, and that vision is very much under threat.

Over a year has gone by since the terrible events in Christchurch, and online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done very little to address the issues exposed by those events. I have some serious concerns in this area, especially as we are finding ourselves increasingly dependent on the internet and social media in the time of covid and social distancing.

I strongly believe that internet access is a human right. Professionally, I've spent over 20 years working in strategy, innovation, technology, and governance. As a technologist, I'm excited to support the open internet and dedicate myself to our technical future. The internet must be available to everyone, and must be protected from capture, whether by corporations or by governments. I also believe that InternetNZ is one of the best organisations in the world at engaging with government for the betterment of the people.

Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, I have done a great deal of work bringing in-person events to an online forum. The ability to share online events with a truly international audience is powerful and we are in a unique set of circumstances that have the world poised to accept this as the new normal.

In addition to a deep awareness of the policy issues facing InternetNZ, my qualifications include the Institute of Directors' Strategy and Governance Courses, an MBA from Victoria University, and a qualification in Enterprise Architecture. My studies, hobbies, and career have given me a powerful understanding of ICT, Public Policy and how to communicate technical ideas to non-technical thinkers. My interests focus on the intersection of government and business, as shown by my MBA thesis on IT in the public sector, and in my coursework, including policy development at the Victoria School of Government. As an activist, I’ve spent many years on public policy, how public engagement models work, and being an active member of the Open Source and larger technology communities.

Having served on several boards (including Tohatoha Commons— formerly Creative Commons NZ), I bring a strong understanding of governance and what it takes to effectively provide forward-looking direction for organisations in transition. Combining that with my experience working professionally in large organisations, I’m keenly aware of the differences between governance and management, and where those boundaries are.

InternetNZ drives a truly impressive amount of input to world-level internet policy and governance. It’s my belief that in bringing my enterprise understanding, passion for policy, and skill in applying the tools of governance to the InternetNZ council, I will be a pivotal collaborator in a team that can make a positive difference to the future of NZ, as well as to internet freedom and accessibility worldwide.

This stuff really does excite me! It matters.

Please vote for me. I’m eager to get back to doing the hard yards to adapt InternetNZ to the future needs of New Zealandand deliver the best, most-open, least-capturable internet possible.

Thanks for your consideration and your vote!

Hello, my name is Mauricio Freitas, and I am submitting my name to this year's InternetNZ Council election.

I may have crossed paths with some of you in the past. I have worked on the vendor's side in the telco space, from the mid-90s through early 2000s. Seventeen years ago, I created Geekzone, and to this day, I continue to work on it - both managing the growing community and interacting with New Zealand tech businesses that help our community.

We make sure our visitors use this space within our guidelines in a respectful, secure and safe way. We accomplish this by making sure we have a known and respected Forum Usage Guidelines (FUG). I manage a team of moderators, all of whom met through Geekzone and over the years became friends in real life, working together to ensure the community reaches its goals of being a place where people can discuss and seek solutions to their technical questions without interferences.

Seven years ago, I joined Wellington-based Intergen's marketing team, as their Digital Marketing Lead, where I can put my technology knowledge to work together with my digital experience.

Over these seventeen years running Geekzone, I've seen and experienced the changes that technology brings to everyday life, changes that came about at increasing speed.

Having been on the consumer side of the discussion for years, and having worked with telcos, IT providers and ISPs, I consider now a time to change. Like my change from a technical person to a marketing practitioner, joining the InternetNZ council would allow me to help further the work already done by previous councillors in making the Internet open and available to everyone. It would let me help influence decisions that could make the Internet safer to use, more reliable and trustworthy. So transparent that people can easily use it to be creative and produce content and new services, growing ideas without restrictions.

Those are policy themes that I feel strongly about, and I think align well with the InternetNZ objectives and policies.

You can find more about me on my LinkedIn profile.

My name is Arran Hunt, and I am asking for your vote.

I’m a partner at law firm Stace Hammond, with offices in Auckland and Hamilton. My background was as a technical business analyst, providing disruption to the UK insurance industry in the early 2000s, reengineering their processes to take advantage to changes in technology and more modern procedures. After working in IT for several years the draw of law had me return to university. I’ve since just past my tenth anniversary in law. With my technical background, much of my work is with companies who operate online, or are digitizing their businesses, moving in to new areas and away from traditional markets. I also frequently write and present for various groups on the subject of technology, and it’s impact on law and society. I’ve also acted for clients in disputes over domain names, and have appeared as a witness in court on unlawful domain name redirections.

However, most of you who recognise me will be from my involvement in NetHui 2019, where I ran a session regarding online harm. This is an area of law I specialise in, and one that becomes ever more relevant, especially with society encouraging more digital communication. I have been involved in a number of civil matters under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, including both the first action and the most high profile. I often give advice, much of it pro bono, to victims of online harassment on their rights under the Act, and the process they will go through. I’ve been called on to comment in the media on the topic, particularly after Christchurch, and provided advice to the Prime Minister, through the Auckland District Law Society, prior to the Paris conference. As with most pieces of legislation that delve into the technical world, it isn’t fit for purpose, and creates significant barriers to those seeking protection from harm, and who would be lost without legal advice.

This is the principal reason I am standing for the council. I believe that InternetNZ is in the best position to advise the government on what is the best for this country in regards to the internet. The best way to do that is to ensure that InternetNZ has strong governance, helping to create that secure foundation on which to build its other operations. I hope to use my knowledge, skills, legal and commercial experience, for the benefit of the InternetNZ council. From that, I look for InternetNZ to be able to better provide assistance and guidance to the government on legislation that helps the people of New Zealand.

I am happy to answer any questions that anyone may have, and can be contacted through Stace Hammond or via most social media.

Kind regards.

Arran has also received endorsement for his candidacy from the Law and Technology Committee of the Auckland District Law Society, as per the letter attached below.

Ko Matawhaura tōku maunga
Ko Rotoiti tōku moana
Ko Ngāti Rongomai tōku hapū
Ko Te Arawa tōku iwi
Ko Sarah Lee tāku ingoa

Tena koutou!

Kua rāranga tahi tātou he whāriki ipurangi mō apōpō.

Together we weave the mat, in terms of the Internet, for future generations.

This whakatauki was gifted to Internet NZ by Takawai Murphy in 2017. It serves as a reminder of how far we have come on our journey as an organisation in the last six years. The gift in itself acknowledges the cultural growth of the organisation and an ongoing commitment to find mutually beneficial ways to partner with tangata whenua.

As Chair of the Komiti Whakauru Māori (Māori Engagement Committee), it’s been a privilege to provide leadership in this space. We’ve maintained an organisational focus on building our internal capability in te reo me ona tikanga Māori while nurturing relationships with key stakeholders in the Māori ICT sector. I am personally delighted Council has recently endorsed a komiti recommendation to create a new role Chief Advisor, Māori. This is a senior management role that will significantly boost our internal capability as well as our capacity to engage and partner with Māori stakeholders in a meaningful way.

It has taken much time and energy to get to this point and is a major contributing factor in why I am seeking re-election. I would very much like to support this appointment from a governance and cultural perspective and be part of welcoming our new Chief Advisor, Māori. The Komiti Whakauru Māori, which includes our Group CE and Community Engagement Director, will work closely alongside the Chief Advisor, Māori, until additional support mechanisms for the role are co-designed and implemented.

I have also taken an active role as a member of the Internet NZ Grants Panel. Driven by the Community Engagement team, I am pleased with the progress made over the last few years. Improvements to our framework and new processes have been implemented, and a new Grants Panel appointed last year. I re-joined the panel as one of the two Council representatives to provide some continuity and support incoming members.

Council’s strategic goal to fund increased public good investment aims to enable more New Zealander’s to shape the growth of the internet as well as its development and use. A robust grants framework is critical if we are to achieve this goal and maintain an open internet for the benefit of all.

During my two-term tenure on Council, governance has initiated a number of changes, including a complete overhaul of our organisational structure. While parts of this process were challenging, the remoulded Internet NZ has been put to the test by recent events and we are reaping the anticipated benefits of being a more agile and connected organisation.

Unprecedented events like the Christchurch terrorist attack and the Covid-19 pandemic thrust the internet into the global spotlight, in both good and bad ways, while underlining the critical role of the internet in our society. We could not have predicted either of these events, but there is no doubt in my mind that our revised structure enabled the organisation to respond in a timely and meaningful way. I am particularly proud of the leadership demonstrated by our staff on the Christchurch Call initiative, and how Internet NZ modelled a people-first approach during the pandemic, supporting staff well-being and running work from home trials prior to lockdown.

I’m driven by a genuine interest in the well-being of people. I thrive in roles where I’m able to express that passion and contribute to the flourishing of individuals and communities. Working for the 20/20 Trust over a period of five years gave me an insight and on-the-ground experience of working with the disadvantaged, digitally disconnected and marginalised communities across the country.

These digital divides became even more apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, highlighting there is still work to be done in this area. As one of Internet NZ’s five strategic goals for 2020-2022, Digital Inclusion is an area I will continue to support and advocate for. Affordable access to the internet should be available to every New Zealand citizen as a fundamental human right, along with opportunities to develop digital literacy skills required to harness it’s potential.

If re-elected to Council I will continue to bring aroha, integrity, passion and commitment to the role. As a Māori women living in rural Marlborough I offer a unique and practical perspective, while also contributing to the diversity of Council.

My relevant experience and skills include:

• Governance experience of 12 + years, including elected positions of Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
• Community development leadership
• Cross-Government relationship management
• Human and resource management
• Senior roles within iwi Māori organisations

The last three years have demonstrated vividly both the best and the worst of the internet, and it has been my honour to be a councillor through them. It has been a time of transition for InternetNZ and a time of challenge for the country and our Internet.

The Internet in Aotearoa was at its best during the pandemic, when it enabled us to remain social, though distant. It brought us together as people, a society, and an economy while enabling us to stay physically apart. Unfortunately, during the last three years we also saw the great harms of those who would use internet platforms to spread violence and hatred. 

I ask for your vote to continue my service on the InternetNZ council. I have more to contribute: I bring technical & security skills, community organising experience, and perspectives that support a more rounded council, a better InternetNZ, and a better internet for NZ. 

Me, and what I bring

Originally from Christchurch, I’m a technical expert by education, a security expert by trade, and a communicator by choice. As a queer technical woman, not only do I believe that people like me need to see people like me in positions of influence and making a difference, I believe that people not like me need to see people like me in positions of influence making a difference.

I also believe strongly in community, and in providing & protecting the opportunities of those who do not get a fair shake. Accessible community is where opportunity breeds, where futures are made, and where great things come to pass. But talking about community isn’t enough - to actually grow it you have to also plant, nurture, and protect it. Two examples from the last three years particularly demonstrate my drive for bettering the world. I was involved in founding a union for tech workers (the ATU), so there’s always somewhere they can turn for help; and I organised BSides Wellington, an inclusive and representative community event that demonstrated how a conference can be affordable and have great content.

Three things from my tenure so far:

• Oversaw .nz Policy Review process - As .nz policy committee chair we have been working to refresh policy in a way that brings in a wider variety of perspectives and issues than ever before, and respects the past while preparing for the future. The independence of this process has led to... 
• Raised community funding to exceed $1m - We hit $1 million in community funding! This funding is one of the best things we do for our local internet communities. We also accelerated distribution during the pandemic period to try and provide a needed lifeline as soon as responsibly possible. 
• Organisational Review and Restructure - We restructured InternetNZ to streamline a previously complex structure, improving the operations efficiency. This enabled the organisation to make good decisions faster, with better outcomes. 

Three things I’ll do if re-elected:

• Finish Revitalising Policies - We’re part way through the process, with the issues paper from the advisory committee complete. Much work remains to be done with the options paper, the consultation, and then the shaping of policy. This will set us up for the next decade, and provide an example of how high-quality independent outreach leads to world-class policies. 
• Keep .nz safe, while keeping NZ secure - My security expertise combined with my community connections means that I bring a credible understanding of the threats we face, but temper that with a watchful eye against overstepping and causing another set of problems.
• Keep a sharp eye on our revenue streams - Every cent we spend is entrusted to us, and all products must return on the investment. If a product is to be supported it must justify its continued existence, or we should put that money to better use. 

Professional and Related Experience

I’m Head of Security at New Zealand’s busiest domestic website and online marketplace. I work to keep the service we provide stable and the precious data we hold safe. I’m on the board of the NZITF, a trust group that connects cyber security teams across nz. I am also the co-leader of a union for tech workers, supporting and advising members towards fair and reasonable employment outcomes.  

Previously, I’ve worked as a consultant with clients across the globe. I not only tested the security of systems myself, I sat down with development teams as they built, worked with architects as they designed, and discussed with risk owners and boards as they decided. I have worked on challenging and high-stakes projects (including medical devices and internet connected cars), published on new Internet protocols and technologies (Multipath-TCP, QUIC, HTTP/2), liaised with media on many different topics, and spoken internationally at a range of events, from casual hacker cons to a business audience of thousands.

Twitter: @secvalve

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/securitykate/

First, for those who don't know me, a brief CV:

I have had an active interest in data communications since the mid 1980s when I entered the industry, had my first email Internet address in 1988, and have been in the Internet services field since 1992, founding one of the country's pioneering ISPs. I have been working in various parts of the services and infrastructure space ever since, including technical consulting to ISPs, operating Internet services and designing open access fibre optic networks.

In the NZ DNS space, I was responsible for operation of the govt.nz, mil.nz and iwi.nz  domains until 1997, and was instrumental in the creation of the latter. Starting in 1999, I built and maintained DNS infrastructure for the .nz name space, first for Domainz, and then NZRS.

With InternetNZ, I was a Councillor from 1998 to 2000, a co-author of the "Hine Report" that the policy structure of the NZ domain name registry is based on. I was elected to InternetNZ Council again in 2017, and seek re-election this year.

I bring to InternetNZ a deep knowledge of the technical and policy structure of the Internet industry. I have a particular interest in filling the gaps in Internet access and seeking ways in which InternetNZ can assist in bringing this about. This particularly applies to the rural and low density areas that have poor economics for infrastructure development, and to communities that for reasons of economic status or mobility are not well served by the national communications infrastructure.

I also bring a solid background in DNS operation and policy, and look forward to working in the .NZ Policy Committee as it works through its long-overdue policy refresh of InternetNZ domain name policy.

I am a techie at heart, but one who has believed in the power of the Internet for a very long time, and one who has been privileged to have been a part of its development of the NZ from infancy to today.

My background also includes a solid understanding of commercial realities, accounting practices, and the legal and policy framework the industry operates under. I also have a strong interest in the country's history, including te Tiriti o Waitangi and associated events, and their ongoing consequences,

Therefore, I seek your support in continuing to serve the community as a member of InternetNZ's Council.  

Tēna rā tātou katoa,

I te taha o toku Nanny,
Ko Hikurangi te Maunga,
Ko Waiapu te Awa,

Ko Mangahanea te Marae
Ko Ngati Porou te Iwi.

I te taha o toku Papa,

Ko Tongariro te Maunga,
Ko Tongariro te Awa,
Ko Hirangi te Marae,
Ko Ngati Tūwharetoa te Iwi.

Ko Hīria Te Ata Te Rangi Kaiamokura ahau.

Kia ora! I'm Hiria,

I've been in tech for ages, I've been through government departments, software vendors, banks, training institutes and even Internet NZ (when NZRS existed) And through it all I've tried to ensure my work was in the best interest of the whānau/family so that they can use technology to better their lives as a whole. 

I carried that on with wharehauora.nz sensors that will tell you, if your home is making you sick and what to do next and the data policy that places that family at the centre of our data sharing policy, because they own their data. We are specifically for vulnerable families. https://www.wharehauora.nz/ our-pou

But I learnt in our first small Proof of Concept that when you're worried about rent and food, heating and internet access come a distant 3rd and 4th. 

So I started digging, trying to find out what our Government was doing about digital inequality. It wasn't just about sensors, it was about being able to do your homework, connecting with whānau across the ditch, finding out if the public transport was running, simple everyday things that those with access, take for granted it makes our lives easier. But it is not available to 1 in 3 people in Housing NZ Homes. https://www.dia.govt.nz/press. nsf/ d77da9b523f12931cc256ac5000d19 b6/ 45ebb4b6f940a640cc2584b9001772 ac!OpenDocument

I spoke about inequality and the need for Govt depts to get out of the way at the DIA Digital Inclusion Forum because I honestly thought that we had time at least to improve on these heinous statistics. But I was wrong because Covid-19 hit and then it made blatantly obvious how big the digital divide was. It literally meant the difference for high risk people, whether or not they would risk themselves or their families and go to the supermarket. https://www.digital.govt.nz/ blog/digital-inclusion-a-year- in-review/

This is why I want to work with InternetNZ.

Tena ra koutou, tena ra koutou, tena ra tatou katoa.

Hiria