Activity report Q1 2022-23
Kia ora,
The purpose of this report is to summarise the delivery of our strategies and plans, and highlight the key metrics that matter to the ongoing health of our organisation.
Our objectives for Q1 of 2022/23 were:
- commence our committed review of structural racism
- farewel Jordan Carter as our Chief Executive, and transition the leadership to Andrew Cushen as our Interim Chief Executive while recruitment commenced for a permanent appointment
- kick start the delivery of the commitments in the 2022/23 Annual Plan
- lead out strategic messaging on benefits to all New Zealanders, particularly on challenges and the action required on social media platforms.
Our team has done a fine job of delivering these objectives for the quarter, and we are proud to report on the achievements of our metrics below.
Andrew Cushen, Interim Chief Executive
Rei kura: treasured teeth - The focus of our action and mahi
Our plan for the year includes six key strategic commitments. The status of our work is summarised as one of three states:
| Status | Description |
| On track | This work is tracking according to our plans and expectations. |
| Within tolerance | This work has deviated from our plans and remedial action is underway. |
| Out of tolerance | This work has deviated from our plans and remediation is not known or unsuccessful. |
Our strategic goal: .nz is a good product
| Goal | Notes | Status |
| Complete the replacement of the .nz registry | We’ve revised our delivery timeframe from August to November 2022 in light of complexities outside of those planned. Core functionality and project remain within scope and budget. | Within tolerance |
| .nz policy that continues to manage harm through .nz domain names | We’ve started discussions with stakeholders and internally about reorienting the next phases of the .nz policy review to implement harm-focused measures earlier. | On track |
Our strategic goal: we are a Te Tiriti o Waitangi-centric organisation
| Goal | Notes | Status |
| Deepen relationships with Māori through engagements and partnerships | We have yet to start this work entirely, however, Te Puni Māori has been engaging with a wide range of potential partners and stakeholders. | |
| Build an environment where Te Ao Māori is treasured and embraced | We’ve commenced the Structural Racism Review, being led by our independent reviewer Dr. Hana O’Regan. This includes participation from members, stakeholders and staff, and will report back in Q2/3. We’ve also started reviewing how Te Tiriti is applied in everyday work across our Puni. | On track |
Our strategic goal: responses to harms
| Goal | Notes | Status |
| Convene and advocate for systemic responses to the challenge of mis- and dis-information in Aotearoa. | Our focus has been on raising attention and awareness in the public of the issues and challenges, and on reaffirming our relationships with other organisations participating in this space. | On track |
Our strategic goal: digital equity and inclusion
| Goal | Notes | Status |
| Working within the Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa (DECA) framework towards digital equity | We’ve worked with and through DECA to strengthen their operating ability, as part of our strategic support for this collaborative community vehicle. | On track |
Highlights of the quarter
Our Internet that benefits rei kura work gets us featured in media more often than any other work we do. In Q1, InternetNZ appeared in 82 media stories in total. The most common themes were the regulation of harmful online content and social media platforms. Our role in taking a stance on it, and advocating for a better, safer Internet is being noticed and we are being invited to comment and provide our expertise on the matter.
Media highlights
- Ardern's Harvard speech fuels calls for social media oversight in NZ
- Govt must step up to police social media - InternetNZ boss
- InternetNZ's Andrew Cushen "New Zealander's don't know where to go for help"
- The link between cybersecurity, extremist threat and misinformation online in Aotearoa
- Expert says National's gang-busting social media policy nearly impossible to police, while proposals may infringe on Bill on Rights
Rei ora: teeth of vitality — The foundations on which we stand
.nz metrics and commentary
Total .nz domains
Total .nz domains chart description: The chart above shows the total number of .nz domain registrations from Q1 2021 through to Q1 2022. The total number of domains each quarter from Q1 2021 - Q2 2022 is as follows: 724,808; 733,200; 738,309; 741,157; 740,720 (respectively).
Creates
.nz domain creates chart description: The chart above shows the total number of .nz domains created from Q1 2021 through to Q1 2022. The total number of .nz domains created each quarter from Q1 2021 - Q2 2022 is as follows: 29,333; 32,693; 25,623; 25,567; 28,511 (respectively). The chart also shows the quarterly change. The percentage of quarterly change each quarter from Q1 2021 - Q2 2022 is as follows: 7.98%; 11.45%; -21.63%; -0.22%; 11.51% (respectively).
Renews and cancels
Renews and cancels chart description: The chart above shows the total number of .nz domain renewals, cancels and renewal ratio (against cancels) from Q1 2021 through to Q1 2022. The total number of renews each quarter from Q1 2021 - Q2 2022 is as follows: 205,220; 227,784; 203,265; 230,878; 244,192 (respectively). The total number of cancels each quarter from Q1 2021 - Q2 2022 is as follows: -32,582; -28,418; -24,051; -30,600; -37,370 (respectively). The renewal ratio (against cancels) for each quarter from Q1 2021 - Q2 2022 is as follows: 86.30%; 88.91%; 89.42%; 88.30%; 86.73%
While our focus in Q1 has primarily been on the registry replacement, we have continued with the experiments in promoting .nz domain names to the .co.nz registrant set. This experimentation is now complete with insights that have been pulled into the refreshed .nz product strategy.
Membership metrics and commentary
Membership numbers over 18 months
Membership chart description: The chart above shows the InternetNZ membership numbers over the past 18 months. It groups members into types of fellows, individual, individual plus, small org, large org and the total number. The total number of members each quarter from September 2021 through to July 2022 is as follows: 396, 394, 401, 411, 346, 359 (respectively).
People metrics and commentary
FTE permanent employees
At the end of Q1, we had 34.5 FTE permanent employees. This number is down 2.0 from the prior quarter.
Arrivals and departures
We welcomed one member to our whanau: Tumuwhanake | GM Customer and Product. We farewelled three of our team mates: UX Designer, Community Advisor, Group Chief Executive
Health, safety and wellbeing
Health and Safety Rep training is underway for several members of the HSW committee to improve knowledge and awareness.
Highlights
This quarter we have commenced a series of Wānanga involving all employees. The objective of these is to have clarity on what our work should focus on under the Rei Kura: Internet That Benefits. We are working together to establish why we are doing it, and how we will all work together to get it done. The wānanga also supports everyone to understand the strategy and how their work links to the strategy and Rei Kura: Internet that benefits.
Partnership metrics and commentary
Our Partnerships and Community Funding approaches for this financial year have not yet been finalised. As they are, we will present the relevant metrics here.