Activity report Q1 2024-25

InternetNZ provides .nz as a public good. Aotearoa New Zealand has a high trust domain name service, and a well-functioning internet as
critical infrastructure.

A thriving .nz provides funding to invest back into
our communities so we support an internet that
benefits all.

InternetNZ will increasingly be able to measure the impact its operation has on the climate.

The DNSSEC return to operations work which took place over 4 maintenance windows in late July and early August concluded the KSK (Key Signing Key) rollover that was started and halted in the May 2023 DNSSEC incident. This results in a new key material for the backup DNSSEC chain being generated and transitioned into use.

With the Conclusion of this new validated process we will now start work on the delayed ZSK (Zone Signing Key) rollover on the backup chain, then transition the active signing system to backup, promoting backup to active and perform the same process again on the formally active chain to roll the old keys in that chain.

The .nz rules review program for 2024-2025 has been published. A consultation on minor amendments to the .nz rules took place in May and June; and proposed new .nz Rules have been prepared for submission to the InternetNZ Council. A pulse check on the management of conflicted domain names commenced with the first tranche of the conflicted names survey, and other targeted engagements, being undertaken in June.

A focus on business growth through new services and stimulated growth will support InternetNZ’s
strategy and goals.

Understanding the drivers of our business model and public impact funding enables InternetNZ’s
business model to be resilient and better able to
respond to future changes. 

This has been a busy quarter for implementing a range of initiatives as a result of the 2024-2026 Product Strategy. To support our target of 15,000 new .nz registrations that are attributable to campaigns, a series of small experimental campaigns have been commissioned and are being tested. In parallel to these experimental campaigns, our capability to undertake scaled campaigns is being developed. This new capability is foundational to being able to deliver on this particular target. In addition, we started our registrar engagement programme this quarter, which will become an ongoing activity moving forward.

The Registry Lock (Lite) add-on feature for .nz domains has entered the design and testing phase. Billing processes required to support the feature are in development 
and are also being tested. There continues to be evidence of market demand for this feature and we remain on track to launch this feature in the current financial year.

Our careful new venture into a broader application of providing wholesale domain
name services is well underway. We are in advanced negotiations with multiple TLDs
for us to provide a variety of wholesale domain name services on a commercial
basis. This will create new revenue streams, distinct from .nz derived revenue. It is
expected that these new revenue streams will be realised in the next quarter.

*Domains Under Management 

InternetNZ strengthens Te Tiriti o Waitangi within our own internet community and internet governance.

InternetNZ’s journey to being a Te Tiriti o Waitangi centric organisation is visible to our kaimahi, partners and internet communities.

Te Ao Māori perspectives increasingly inform our mahi.

The comprehensive Te Tiriti Plan provides focus and definition of what Te Tiriti centred means for INZ Group in any particular year.

InternetNZ successfully recruited the new Tumu Kaupapa Māori completing the Te Kāhui Tumu leadership and restructure of Te Puni Māori.

Several wānanga were achieved by Te Puni Māori resetting the puni’s function, role, goals and strategic objectives. Draft planning was initiated during this quarter to develop InternetNZ’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi centric vision and strategy.

InternetNZ also attended the National Maōri Business conference, Te Ao Matihiko Awards as well as engaged other key Māori stakeholders in our Internet Communities to build our relationship portfolios and hāpori Māori.

A clear NZ perspective and narrative on internet governance policy supports an open, free, secure and interoperable Internet because it’s critical to Aotearoa's economic growth and social and cultural wellbeing.

InternetNZ advocates for a single, global Internet and its multistakeholder governance. We work to model, defend and improve this model of internet governance.

InternetNZ participates in forums and processes to help  shape an internet that benefits all the people of Aotearoa.

NZ’s voice is informed by our internet communities’ perspectives. We are able to present their perspectives and our insights into national, regional, and international forums and meetings.

Internet Governance

An Internet governance paper that articulates a cohesive Internet governance work programme across InternetNZ is on the August Council agenda.

InternetNZ has continued to work with auDA, CIRA and Nominet to develop and launch a Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism (TCCM). TCCM aims to raise the global Internet technical community’s collective voice to defend multi-stakeholderism in the ongoing United Nations’ dialogues about the future of Internet governance: Collaborating for multistakeholder Internet governance »
InternetNZ

This quarter, the focus has been on the Global Digital Compact which is being negotiated by United Nations Member States in New York. The TCCM has developed joint positions and statements to feed directly into this process. InternetNZ also provided direct input to the New Zealand government on the draft Internet governance related provisions as well as other policy provisions of the Global Digital Compact throughout this quarter, to support and inform negotiators.

InternetNZ has engaged in a number of international Internet governance forums during the quarter to support the multi-stakeholder system, maintain relationships with the international Internet community, and help shape the Internet’s development for the benefit of Aotearoa. This includes (in person and virtual) attendance at NETmundial+10, the WSIS+20 Forum High Level Event, and ICANN80.

We engaged in the ICANN ccNSO policy process by voting to support the adoption of a new policy that paves the way for non-Latin script country code Top Level Domains and their variants to become available for domain name registration. This is an important step towards an Internet that is accessible to everyone notwithstanding their cultural and linguistic background.

We have continued our host country support of APNIC58 to deliver their Wellington conference in early September, including programme development, youth programmes, and supporting welcome and visa processes. We are also supporting PAC IGF Fellowships through funding, and invites have been sent to local Pacific MPs and MFAT inviting them to attend. We have begun discussions with MFAT on how they might strengthen their support for PAC IGF as part of their digital programme, and development and capability building in the Pacific.

Strengthening advocacy

We continue to strengthen our government connections including meetings with MFAT, Privacy Commissioner’s Office, and MBIE.

We continue to advocate our perspectives on the Internet and Internet-based technologies through op-eds from the Chief Executive, which are increasingly being picked up by local media. And our Internet Insights report stats continue to be used in media stories and more recently in a Cabinet paper.

NetHui 2024

NetHui 2024 programme development and ticket registrations went live on 18 July. The programme sessions were developed through community submissions and a community panel. A Health and Safety plan has been drafted, we are undertaking a security risk assessment on site with the venue, and many staff have completed the personal safety and conflict management training. Keynote speakers have been invited. Venue logistics are underway, and the networking event design has commenced.

In Q1 2024, a key focus was on establishing the codesign group and instigating the writing process.

The focus in Q1 has been on setting the scene and supporting the codesign group to contextualise the information required to undertake its remit. That is, to make proposals on the constitutional arrangements of our governance and membership, and guide setting the objects of the organisation. They have met 4 times so far, with the most recent engagement focused on what proposals will be put forward for testing through the engagement programme anticipated in Q2.

We delivered 5 online workshops for staff (1), council (1) and members (3) to engage specifically on the objects of the organisation. Community engagement through this period has been lighter given the focus on the codesign group, however, we continue to engage iwi, hapū and community organisations on the constitution and have a focused targeted engagement plan in place for Q2.

The writing group got underway with ensuring robust information was available regarding our legal obligations, with an assessment of where most of the work will be required in terms of writing.

Membership engagement

The annual membership renewal process took place, members that did not renew by 31 March 2024 held ‘grace member’ status until 30 June 2024. We sent out four renewal emails encouraging members to renew their membership. We have had 18 new members join InternetNZ in the last quarter.

Members were invited to participate in following engagements:

• Annual membership survey.
• Opportunity to make a submission to the NetHui programme.
• Quarterly CE and members online hui.
• Three constitutional review workshops on the Objects of InternetNZ.
• An invitation to engage with our International Policy Lead on the future of Internet governance.

As well as the above, nominations for Council opened in June and preparation for the InternetNZ AGM took place.

In Q2, the insights gathered in the annual membership survey will be used to improve the membership engagement plan. A new quarterly email will be sent to members from the Chief Executive, updating members on what’s been happening in the national and international Internet community and also at InternetNZ. Work will commence on establishing the members’ moderated mailing list. Planning for the by-election created by vacancies from the recent elections is well underway.

The Annual Report 2024 was developed over the last quarter and was published on the InternetNZ website in July prior to the AGM. The report included progress updates on centering Te Tiriti and the Systemic Racism Review actions.

Registrars understand their obligations and implement best practices.

Registrars are responsive to Domain Name Holder requests.

Domain Name Holders are aware they can contact the Domain Name Commission with complaints and enquiries.

As a membership organisation InternetNZ continues to provide a number of avenues for membership to engage on accountability, strategy, public policy and key projects.

InternetNZ builds strong reciprocal partnerships and relationships that support engagement with Māori communities and the internet community.

We ensure we have sustainable funding models into the future.

Our internet governance role is supported through community partnerships and grants, relationships and collaborations.

We demonstrate InternetNZ’s public good role through the sharing of insights, research, and case studies of impact.

% of funding to Māori partners

We are on track to increase the overall percentage of funding to Māori partners and organisations again this year. Currently, 14.86% of funding distributed so far this year has gone to Māori organisations or individuals. Over the coming months we are working with Taiki e! to pilot a place-based incubator-style grant round in Te Tairāwhiti. And we are also in the process of working through funding commitments for this year particularly with Māori partners. We continue to strengthen relationships that support engagement with Māori communities and the internet community.

Implementing the Membership Engagement Plan

A project plan is in development for upgrading the members’ platform on Civi, and
implementation will commence later this year.

DPMC funding

Our contract with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to administer the ‘One-off fund to build resilience against disinformation’ is almost complete. We are on track to finish the final supplementary reporting by the end of August. The primary report was published in June.

We began the new Broadband Map product strategy implementation this quarter. Clarifying roles and responsibilities within the team, defining customer experience of the Broadband Map data providers and users, establishing the data providers engagement program, auditing the processes, updating documentation and preparing for the data pipelines improvement work.