InternetNZ corrects misinformation
Media release
InternetNZ President Stephen Judd today clarified proposed changes to the organisation's constitutional review.
"Unfortunately, the proposed changes have been misrepresented by some groups including the Free Speech Union, creating confusion about the purpose of the constitutional review.
"The constitutional review is about organisational governance and won’t change how domain names are managed or give InternetNZ any expanded powers over domain names.
Judd says a constitution review is driven by the need to meet the legal requirements of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 and ensures the governance of InternetNZ reflects and serves all the communities who rely on InternetNZ’s services.
“The constitutional review has been highly collaborative, with an extensive co-design process and multiple opportunities for member feedback. It’s disappointing that some groups have chosen to speak out against our proposed changes before the final draft is even complete, bypassing a consultation process they were actively participating in.
“This suggests their concerns may be more about advancing a predetermined agenda than engaging constructively with the actual content of the constitutional review, which has nothing to do with domain name management or censorship.”
“Contrary to what the Free Speech Union are saying, any member can put themselves forward for election to Council regardless of their views or perspectives. There is no ideological test for Council membership."
"We maintain a secure and trusted .nz top level domain by using established and transparent processes. One of the reasons .nz domain names are so widely trusted today is that we follow a strict set of rules for domain management. We can only remove a domain in very limited circumstances: when registration details are incomplete or fraudulent, when ordered by a court, or during extremely rare emergencies like the aftermath of a mass shooting."
“Since some organisations began raising their concerns about the proposed governance changes last week, membership of InternetNZ has tripled to more than 1,000 members.”
Judd emphasised that InternetNZ is committed to representing the diverse perspectives of all New Zealanders who use the internet.
"We're a membership-led organisation that welcomes people from all backgrounds and perspectives. We encourage all those who care about New Zealand's digital future to consider joining.
“Membership costs just $21 and gives New Zealanders the right to vote on important decisions about how our critical digital infrastructure is governed, including who our governors are."
InternetNZ is the trusted guardian of New Zealand's internet domain and has been for decades. We ensure our digital infrastructure remains secure, stable and accessible and will continue to do so.
“Thirty years ago nobody knew what the internet would become. Times have changed, and our constitution needs to reflect that,” says Judd.
InternetNZ is responsible for managing nearly 750,000 domain names ending in .nz, supporting approximately $150 million in daily economic activity. Revenue raised from this work is invested back into community initiatives, with $1.2 million distributed to community organisations in the 2023-24 financial year.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Amomai Pihama
Communications Manager
Phone: +64 27 366 8013
Email: amomai@internetnz.net.nz
Donovan Ryan
Phone: +64 27 344 4011
Email: donovan@greatscott.co.nz
About InternetNZ:
InternetNZ is an incorporated society and registered charity responsible for managing New Zealand's .nz domain. We're dedicated to an open, secure, and accessible internet for all New Zealanders.
The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 requires incorporated societies to develop a constitution by April 2026 to continue operating as an incorporated society.