Activity Report Q1 2025–2026

The 2025/26 Annual Goals are:

• Goal 1: A thriving and trusted .nz domain, actively influencing good global Internet governance.
• Goal 2: We increase the resilience of our business model in a rapidly changing environment. 
• Goal 3: Centring Te Tiriti o Waitangi throughout all that we do.
• Goal 4: InternetNZ Group has a clear purpose and values that drives our long term strategy.
• Goal 5: Community, partnership, collaboration and investment. Supporting shared community outcomes and value for an Internet that benefits all of Aotearoa. 

The InternetNZ Group has achieved an incredible amount in this first Quarter and a significant amount of the effort has been directly associated with members. We rolled from Constitutional Review in Q4 last year to a Special General Meeting, to membership growth and considerable media management, to managing huge increases in valid inquiry, but also abuse, insult and racism in communication to staff. We planned a scaled-up AGM with independent motions and integrated app voting. All executed within this first Quarter.  

At the same time, we planned and delivered a .nz wholesale fee change, to come into effect on the 1st July. This was the first pricing change for the InternetNZ Registry System (IRS), our new registry platform. This work has allowed us to establish processes to support implementation of future pricing strategies and the first increase in over five years.

At the time of writing this report, the first invoicing round had just completed successfully through the IRS.

We have also progressed our 2026-2031 Group Strategy work, and in particular Te Tiriti o Waitangi Statement and organisation Purpose and Values. A key question people ask us is ‘what does being Te Tiriti centered mean to InternetNZ Group?’ The Te Tiriti Statement, now named Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa, aims to answer this question and articulate clearly what it means to us as a member and community ‘owned’ organisation. We will use Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa to inform the focus of our Te Tiriti work.

We have spoken a lot about WSIS+20 (World Summit on the Information Society — 20-year review) in the last months. This year is a critical year for multistakeholder processes as the central planning structure for an open and global Internet. Our participation in forums, committees and working groups this Quarter has been significant, with the voice of Aotearoa included in important international contexts.

Once again, you can see from the spread of action across the five goals for 2025, that our progress is balanced and core work continues to be protected from the urgent work in membership and AGM processes.

Vivien Maidaborn, Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive

Our plan for 2025–2026 includes five key strategic goals.

The progress of our work is summarised below:

Goal 1: A thriving and trusted .nz domain, actively influencing good global Internet governance.

Measures

How we measure progress and what we aim to achieve in 2025/26 towards the goal. 

• 100% availability DNS. 
• 99.9% availability registry services (excluding scheduled maintenance).
• An InternetNZ Group operational strategy is delivered to disrupt malicious use of .nz domain names.
• .nz Rule change consultation will be designed to engage the NZ public including Māori
• InternetNZ Group plays leadership roles in  TCCM (Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism) toward defending and developing the Multistakeholder approach to the Internet.
• 4 Regional NetHui events will be delivered in 2025/26.
• InternetNZ Group supports delivery of Māori-led Internet governance event, Kauwaka te Ipurangi 2025.
• Deliver .nz Registrar summit.
• Facilitate Māori and rangatahi Māori participation in Internet Governance opportunities.

Progress report April–June 2025

For the .nz Rules programme we completed: 

• Engagement with multiple stakeholders (including the government moderator and affected iwi) on the transition to a new policy for conflicted names which was completed on 1 July.  This change has introduced more efficient management of conflicted domain names annually and is now being managed within business as usual.

• Over 100 conflicted domain names resolved in the final year that the process operated. Although there were more than 15,000 conflicted domain names originally, the final number remaining in the process was only 1,238.

• Public consultation on minor amendments to the .nz Rules was completed and we engaged with the Registrar Advisory Group on these changes.  

• Planning and initial work on the Tranche 2 .nz Rules changes including engagement with .nz Advisory Committee was also completed. 

To increase understanding of .nz Rules we shared consultation information through NetHub and our members pānui, and by introducing the role and value of Internet Governance at Kauwaka te Ipurangi Aotearoa.

We commenced research on a Domain Name System (DNS) Abuse strategy focused on DNS-level interventions that are used globally to disrupt malicious use, including talking with international experts.

Staff participated at LACNIC 43/LACNOG/LACTLD, the CENTR Jamboree, ICANN83, IGF 2025, and PACNOG35 to support the multi-stakeholder model of Internet Governance. 

Continued focus on the WSIS+20 Review process, through our work with A Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism (TCCM).  TCCM now has 42 member organisations: registries, top-level domain regional groups, registrars, registries for Internet numbers and registry service providers from around the globe. 

Contributed to a ‘taskforce’ of TCCM members to develop TCCM positions on key WSIS+20 issues including WSIS Action Lines, the purpose and value of the IGF, and ‘enhanced cooperation’. 

Met with relevant New Zealand government agencies (MBIE, MFAT and DPMC) on Internet Governance issues of mutual interest, including New Zealand government resourcing and support of Internet Governance. 

Kauwaka te Ipurangi was held on 13 and 14 May at Te Papa, attended by Māori sector leaders, rangatahi, ICANN, ISOC, APNIC, and international guests, supported by Board members. This was the first time Māori have come together from across the sector to understand and learn more about Internet Governance, and consider what this might mean for Māori.  Stakeholder feedback received has been very positive. Key outcomes focused on progressing towards establishing Internet Governance structure taking into account perspectives shared at the forum, outlining next steps, and identifying further opportunities for rangatahi to engage in Internet Governance.

Goal 2: We increase the resilience of our business model in a rapidly changing environment.

Measures

• Complete the delivery of the 202–2026 product strategy. 
• Develop a new 2026+ Product Strategy that aligns with the 2026–2031 InternetNZ Group Strategy
• Develop and implement a multi-year pricing strategy. 
• A Monitoring and Oversight Framework is developed and implemented by DNC.
• Complete Business Model Assessment to support the 2026–31 InternetNZ Group Strategy.

Progress report April–June 2025

Implemented the .nz wholesale fee change that came into effect on the 1st July. This was the first pricing change for our new registry platform, the InternetNZ Registry System. This work has allowed us to establish processes to support implementation of future pricing strategies. In addition to this, our data team has been making preparations to study the impact of our wholesale fee change which will help inform our pricing strategy into future years.

The JumpStarter website — our marketing innovation — has started to provide insights for us on market education. This includes what type of education content leads to curiosity about domain names and when that curiosity may lead to positive purchase decisions. This is one of the pillars of our research work, particularly as it is one that allows us to engage directly with the market, to help us understand consumer behaviour and how this impacts our revenue.

Goal 3: Centring Te Tiriti o Waitangi throughout all that we do.

Measures

• We develop for InternetNZ Group: A shared Te Tiriti Centring vision and strategic Te Tiriti objectives that can be integrated into the 2026-31 Strategy.
• Taonga resource (App) is developed and rolled out to InternetNZ Group.
• Develop the Tumatakahuki Māori relationship model to strengthen Ipurangi Aotearoa’s approach to meaningful engagement with Māori organisations, partners, iwi, hapū.

Progress report April–June 2025

Pae Kākano Year One of Ngā Pae is well underway, laying key strategic foundations.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi vision statement progressed through an iterative process at wānanga with the InternetNZ Group staff and Boards facilitated by Te Amokura Consultants, as a key input into the 2026-31 Strategy. 

Our Māori cultural app and taonga is in the later phases of development. This app is due for deployment and use by Kaimahi in quarter two.

Supported Te Hapori Matihiko Awards 2025 held in Ōtautahi. Hosted and met with emerging Māori organisations, forming new relationships (mana whenua, Ngai Tūāhuriri). 

Kaimahi (staff) attended a community event in Te Tairāwhiti (the east coast of the North Island) this quarter to celebrate the completion of the community-led innovative funding model in partnership with Tāiki E!  Our continued presence in Tairāwhiti has enabled meaningful and trusted relationships with Māori organisations in the region. 

“We are so excited about this kaupapa — thank you InternetNZ for this support, which we hope will be quite transformative not just for our marae, but marae throughout the region and indeed the nation” Hinemaurea marae

Goal 4: InternetNZ Group has a clear purpose and values that drives our long term strategy.

Measures

• Approved 2026-31 InternetNZ Group Strategy is in place, including purpose and values. 
• The more than 2,500 members of INZ are offered no less than 6 engagement opportunities across 2025/26 in core InternetNZ work.
• A Transitional plan for the Constitution is developed and implemented for Council and Committee processes.

Progress report April–June 2025

The strategic development steps for 2026-2031 InternetNZ Group Strategy include the following key elements:

• Draft purpose and values to guide strategic choices
• Environment Scan/ Alignment
• Scenario development
• Strategy development

Q1 of 2025/26 focused on the first two elements and involved interviews with a cross-section of stakeholders including Board members and staff. We completed an environment scan of key factors that are likely to influence InternetNZ over the next five years.  These activities supported the development of scenarios for a Board strategy workshop held in May. 

InternetNZ membership numbers have remained relatively steady over Q1, reaching around 4,700 by the end of June. The CiviCRM member database indicates 580 Māori members (plus 100 respondents for the Membership survey identified as Māori). As members renew, demographic member data will become more accurate.

The growth in membership placed an extraordinary administrative burden on the organisation to manage all onboarding including channels, increased queries and correspondence, requiring specific processes to manage the additional correspondence. In particular managing queries on eligibility and the election/voting at the AGM.  

The Code of Conduct was revised and published, and an external moderator for InternetNZ channels was appointed for 6 months. 

The 2025 Annual Membership Survey provided an opportunity to hear from members and their concerns. The survey marked a massive increase in participation rates at 34.7% response rate in 2025 (vs 17.9% response rate in 2024). 

Over Q1 we completed preparations and communications for the election of two new Board members, set up with electionz.com to support voting, and engaged with members and candidates to ensure candidate information was available to all members.  

To enable a much larger cohort of members to attend the Annual General Meeting in July, preparations and communications progressed throughout Q1, including all required notices and communications under the new Constitution, and incorporating new technical aspects such as use of Zoom webinar, selection of motion voting software, and all tech production and support. 

Initial planning to stand up a member-to-member email was completed. However, survey feedback indicated a shift in perspective from members, with 75% of respondents stating they would not want to reinstate such a mailing list.

Transition to the new Constitution following a successful vote to adopt it at the SGM on 31 March. In April we re-registered the organisation under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 and as part of the process submitted the new constitution to the Incorporated Society Office and Charities Services. Board by laws and charter have been updated. 

Goal 5: Community, partnership, collaboration and investment. Supporting shared community outcomes and value for an Internet that benefits all of Aotearoa.

Measures

• A long term plan for the InternetNZ Community Fund is in place.
• Funding to Māori partners or entities is a minimum of 40% of available Community funds in 2025–26.
• DNC funds the cost of up to ten mediations, and cultural and accessibility support for domain name holders.

Progress report April–June 2025

We completed analysis and finalised a model for a sustainable InternetNZ Community Fund, incorporating feedback from the Audit & Risk Committee. The approach was approved at the 9 May InternetNZ Board meeting.

We started work on the funding profile for 2025-26. And over Q1 we engaged with key strategic partners to agree on shared goals for the next financial year/s and completed contracts. Some examples of joint work includes:

• Supporting TUANZ and FLINT events, continuing on working groups on education to tech employment pathways, and an AI working group.
• Digital equity measures with DECA, TCF, FigureNZ and an economist
• Supporting development of a Digital Inclusion Index with Katoa Connect
• Development of Year 1 of a digital equity campaign “No Tech Day” with Chorus, TCF, DFA and DECA
• Setting up a data leaders group with Katoa Connect, TUANZ, DECA, DFA and TCF

We have joined Philanthropy NZ’s social policy working group, and continue to share any relevant submissions with other community organisations, and regularly attend funder sessions. 

The Domain Name Commission (DNC) has received, reviewed and provided feedback on monthly and quarterly reports from NZDRC on the status and outcomes of mediations and expert determinations.  

The Public policy team submitted on the following government consultations: 

• National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) emergency management reform. Submitted feedback as designated manager of New Zealand’s ccTLD (country code Top Level Domain). While our submission addressed issues related to digital equity and access, it’s crucial that any legislative changes impacting our core function of managing the  Domain Name System (DNS) are written in a manner that preserves the integrity of our technical systems. 

• We also submitted on the public consultation by the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. We submitted on this Bill as a consistent voice for positive regulatory interventions in digital and online spaces that balance user rights and technical rigor. Our submission was focused on our role as part of the technical community, and we noted the potential risk of the Bill to not undertake effective digital regulation. InternetNZ also completed an oral submission to the committee.   

• We also continue to engage with the government, such as attending a Copyright reform roundtable with Minister Simpson to discuss the amendments required following the UK Free Trade Agreement being finalised.