Activity report Q2 2025–26
Tēnā tātou, Welcome to the second quarterly report for the 2025–26 financial year. This report measures the organisation's progress in achieving the strategic plan with a focus on the annual goals and measures signed off by the Board for the financial year.
Our progress against the annual goals has been steady and strong over the period. We have combined key events like the Registrar Summit, with important organisational work like our new 5-year strategy. Our critical business activities, like running .nz have been well supported with no issues. The Domain Name Commission (DNC) continues to experience an increase in complexity and number of queries, concerns and complaints that reflect the increasing risks in the domain name space. In quarter three, we will see key documents coming through to members before final approvals at the Board in December. This applies to Ngā Uara, our values, Te Korowai ō Ipurangi Aotearoa, our Te Tiriti statement, and the 2026–31 Strategy.
Vivien Maidaborn
Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive
Our plan for 2025–26 includes five key strategic goals.
- 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 progress of our work is summarised below:
Goal 1
A thriving and trusted .nz domain, actively influencing good global Internet governance.
| Measures (for 2025–26) | Progress report (July–September 2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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100% availability DNS. 99.9% availability registry services (excluding scheduled maintenance). |
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| An InternetNZ Group operational strategy is delivered to disrupt malicious use of .nz domain names. | In quarter 2, we completed a draft Issues Paper for engagement with stakeholders and members. DNC produced a complementary report on the current state of the types and level of malicious use they are seeing in the .nz domain name space. Following feedback from the .nz Advisory Committee, we will update the Issues paper and engage key stakeholders to inform the development of a draft strategy to disrupt malicious use in .nz. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .nz Rules change consultation will be designed to engage the New Zealand public, including Māori. | At the July 2025 meeting, the .nz Advisory Committee agreed to consult the community on a number of specified amendments to the .nz Rules. Public consultation ran from 1 September to 1 October, including a presentation at the Registrars’ Summit. Twelve submissions were received. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| InternetNZ Group plays leadership roles in TCCM (a Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism) toward defending and developing the Multistakeholder approach to the Internet. |
In Q2, staff participated in several international forums and meetings to support the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance, strengthen relationships and expertise, and ensure Aotearoa New Zealand’s voice is represented in shaping the Internet’s future for the benefit of all. Highlights of participation at the PACIFIC IGF 2025 (co-located with the Pacific ccTLD meeting), APTLD 88, AusNOG 2025, and auIGF 2025 included:
Staff also undertook intersessional work for ICANN, including engagement in ccNSO Working Groups and Committees and the ICANN ‘How We Work’ kaupapa. We continued to play a leadership role in a TCCM as it focussed on the ongoing United Nations WSIS+20 process. In Q2, TCCM finalised and published its WSIS+20 positioning and developed and submitted its inputs on the WSIS+20 Elements Paper and on the Zero Draft of the WSIS+20 Outcome Document through written and in-person processes. Our staff also engaged in the WSIS+20 process through the Australian Government's WSIS+20 Multistakeholder Working Group, as part of the ISOC WSIS+20 Focal Point Group, and supported the auIGF indigenous panel’s feedback on the draft. We met with Minister Goldsmith in July to discuss the importance of New Zealand government engagement in Internet governance forums and processes, to defend and sustain multi-stakeholder Internet governance which is a foundation of the open, secure and globally interoperable Internet that underpins our economy and society. We also continued to engage with MBIE and MFAT on Internet Governance issues of mutual interest. |
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| Four Regional NetHui events will be delivered in 2025/26. |
This quarter saw the design and planning of a new, innovative event format we are testing. Building on our experiences with NetHui, we launched NetTalks in Ōtautahi, Christchurch, on 31 October. NetTalks are short talks with a big impact. NetTalks is branded as a blend of inspirational learning and entertainment. A 90-minute evening event, designed and formatted for a diverse audience — six speakers, each with only six minutes. |
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InternetNZ Group supports the delivery of Māori-led Internet governance event, Kauwaka te Ipurangi 2025. Facilitate Māori and rangatahi Māori participation in Internet Governance opportunities. |
Kauwaka te Ipurangi, an event for Māori to come together, to understand and learn more about Internet Governance, and consider what this might mean for Māori, was held 13 and 14 May 2025, in Q1. In Q2, the Kauwaka report was completed and follow-up meetings with the community to agree next steps for actions identified at Kauwaka will follow. |
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Deliver .nz Registrar Summit. |
We held the .nz Registrar Summit 2025 in Christchurch on 25–26 September. In total, 20 registrars attended the Summit in person or online. Collectively, they represented 87.4% of the .nz namespace. All types of registrars attended, from small to large, local and international. The theme of the Summit was one of celebration, celebrating the business relationship we have with our registrars — some of which we have been in business with for more than 20 years. Representatives of CIRA (.ca), auDA (.au) and Dot Kiwi (.kiwi) also attended and gave presentations. |
Goal 2
We increase the resilience of our business model in a rapidly changing environment.
| Measures (for 2025–26) | Progress (July–September 2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Complete the delivery of the 2024–2026 product strategy. |
We continued to develop and refine the JumpStarter website — our marketing innovation. This is an educational content platform that will continue to evolve based on the insights we learn about how visitors use the site. The results of how the platform has performed this year were presented to the attendees of the .nz Registrar Summit, and together, we started exploring ways to collaborate with the registrars, using JumpStarter.
*Domains Under Management |
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Develop a new 2026+ product strategy that aligns with the 2026–2031 InternetNZ Group Strategy |
This work is scheduled for Q3 and Q4 of the current financial year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Develop and implement a multi-year pricing strategy. | This work is scheduled for Q3 and Q4 of the current financial year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Monitoring and Oversight Framework is developed and implemented by DNC. | Commenced but on hold until at least Q4 due to an increase in complex investigations and issues, which have impacted the DNC team's resourcing and capacity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Complete Business Model Assessment to support the 2026–31 InternetNZ Group Strategy. | No update |
Goal 3
Centring Te Tiriti o Waitangi throughout all that we do.
| Measures (for 2025–26) | Progress (July–September 2025) |
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We develop for InternetNZ Group: A shared Te Tiriti Centring vision. |
The first year of Ngā Pae, called Pae Kākano, is progressing well and establishing important strategic foundations. |
| Strategic Te Tiriti objectives that can be integrated into the 2026–31 Strategy. | The vision statement for Te Tiriti o Waitangi has evolved into what is now known as Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa. This final version was developed during staff and InternetNZ Board workshops, known as wānanga, which were facilitated by an external facilitator and supported by Te Amokura Consultants. Feedback from these sessions was carefully considered and integrated into the work. There will be a final wānanga with Te Komiti Whakauru Māori before the completion of Te Korowai o Ipurangi Aotearoa, scheduled for November. |
| Taonga resource app is developed and rolled out to InternetNZ Group. |
The .nz Taonga app was launched at our Wellington office during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori — Māori Language Week 2025. Kaimahi and Board members attended the event both in person and online. We were fortunate to have Kiwa Digital join us to share insights into the app's development journey and process. The app, known as .nz Taonga, is accessible to all staff and Board members on their devices. It provides essential tools, information, and is a resource for engaging the Māori language and tikanga concepts. The app is designed to be versatile and user-friendly. We have received numerous positive responses from staff and Board members regarding the app. |
| Develop the Tumatakahuki Māori relationship model to strengthen Ipurangi Aotearoa’s approach to meaningful engagement with Māori organisations, partners, iwi, and hapū. | A follow-up meeting was held with key stakeholders who attended the Kauwaka te Ipurangi event. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the next steps for Kauwaka and review the event’s key outcomes. It was an opportunity to explore how we can also accelerate these next steps. A series of additional meetings is planned to continue these discussions. |
Goal 4
InternetNZ Group has a clear purpose and values that drives our long term strategy.
| Measures (for 2025–26) | Progress (July–September 2025) |
| Approved 2026–31 InternetNZ Group Strategy is in place, including purpose and values. | In Q2, together with DNC, we developed the Strategic Pillars and Goals of the Group as part of the Strategic Plan. This work included the renewal of the purpose and vision as well as endorsement of the newly developed Ngā Uara | Our Values. |
| The more than 2,500 members of InternetNZ are offered no less than six engagement opportunities across 2025/26 in core InternetNZ work. |
This quarter, we completed a vital update to our CiviCRM membership system that resolved an issue that arose during the AGM voting process. The system error meant that members with Microsoft email addresses (Hotmail and Outlook) could not reset their passwords. We held the quarterly CE Members hui, where members can bring their pātai (questions) and thoughts directly to the CE. We continued our work towards three events to be held in the next quarter that members will be invited to. The Annual General Meeting was held and has been extensively reported on to the Board. |
| A Transitional plan for the Constitution is developed and implemented for Board and Committee processes | In Q2, we continued the work (mostly internally) with embedding the Constitutional changes into our policies and procedures. Six months after the SGM, we continued to review and update as required to align and educate. |
Goal 5
Community, partnership, collaboration and investment. Supporting shared community outcomes and value for an Internet that benefits all of Aotearoa.
| Measures (for 2025–26) | Progress (July–September 2025) |
| A long-term plan for the InternetNZ Community Fund is in place. | The annual plan for 2025–26 is completed, with the bulk of funding agreements and monies being distributed in Q2. The Board considered the approach to the long-term plan for sustainable revenue to the fund and disbursements from it in Q1. |
| Funding to Māori partners or entities is a minimum of 40% of available Community funds in 2025–26. |
Following the approach to sustainable funding in the Community Fund being approved by the Board, we provided Te Komiti Whakauru Māori with a paper outlining the funding plan for 2025–26 and how we will meet the funding commitment to Māori of 40%. We are on track to meet the 40% annual target. We have attended and supported several Internet community and sector events this quarter, including:
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| DNC funds the cost of up to ten mediations, and cultural and accessibility support for domain name holders |
To date this financial year, three mediations have been funded. There have been no requests for cultural or accessibility support. |