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InternetNZ

From ICANNWiki
Type: Non-profit
Industry: Registry
Founded: New Zealand, 1995
Founder(s): Colin Jackson
Headquarters: Level 9, Grand Arcade Tower,
16 Willis Street, Wellington
Country: New Zealand
Website: http://www.internetnz.nz/
Twitter: @InternetNZ
Key People
Jordan Carter, Chief Executive

Andrew Cushen, Work Programme Director
Ellen Strickland, Collaboration and Community Lead
Megan Baker, Communications Lead

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc.) InternetNZ is the registry operator for New Zealand's .nz ccTLD.[1] It helps New Zealanders harness the power of the Internet through our community grants, research and policy. They are champions for an Internet that is accessible, open, and secure for all New Zealanders.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

InternetNZ was established in 1995. Since 1996, InternetNZ is the recognized delegated manager for the .nz ccTLD. This delegation is from IANA, a function managed by ICANN.

The redelegation to InternetNZ occurred in 1996, when Waikato University wished to cease providing domain name registration services due to the increasing demand for domain names in the .nz space, during the years of rapid growth of the Internet. IANA authorised this friendly redelegation, and the New Zealand Government acknowledged this change a number of years later.

On the 29th of October, 2007, InternetNZ and ICANN entered into an arrangement by an "exchange of letters" recognizing each other and the obligations of the two parties in relation to the operation of the .nz domain name.[3]

In 2008, InternetNZ proposed to change it's official name from “The Internet Society of New Zealand” to “Internet New Zealand Inc.”.[4]

While InternetNZ is the designated manager for the .nz ccTLDand represents New Zealand at a global level through that role, it also has two wholly owned subsidiaries that ensure that help keep the ccTLD running effectively. These are:[2]

  • DNC (Domain Name Commission): Develops and enforces policies for the .nz domain name space
  • NZRS (.nz Registry Services): Maintains and publishes the register of .nz names and operates the Domain Name System for .nz.

In 2016 the Council initiated an organisational review of the InternetNZ group (InternetNZ, the Domain Name Commission and NZRS). The outcome from the proposal and public consultation was that from 1 April 2018, all the work of InternetNZ and NZRS was streamlined under one banner; InternetNZ. NZRS ceased to exist, and its people and services have been integrated into InternetNZ.

New gTLDs[edit | edit source]

As of January 2012, InternetNZ had declared an interest in applying for .kiwi though ICANN's new gTLD program. The extension is an interesting bid given that it is a national identifier akin to New Zealand's .nz ccTLD, but arguably more fun. InternetNZ is not the only organization interested in applying for the extension, as a group of ex-pats based in Vancouver, Canada, have declared their intention to do the same. The latter group is associated with current Minds + Machines Chairman, and former ICANN Board Chairman, Peter Dengate Thrush.[5]

.kiwi was designated to Dot Kiwi Limited and provides domain competition to the .nz gTLD [6]

Current Councillors[edit | edit source]

All councillors can be found on the InternetNZ website.


References[edit | edit source]