InternetNZ supports Internet Awards
Media Release – 3 July 2009 - InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) is pleased to announce its support for the 2009 Australia and New Zealand Internet Best Practice Awards to be held in October, as well as the 2009 Liz Dengate Thrush Internet Awards to be held in August.
2009 AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND INTERNET BEST PRACTICE AWARDS
The Internet Best Practice Awards are organised by the Australian domain name administrator auDA in full collaboration with InternetNZ. The awards recognise organisations, businesses, groups and individuals that have made significant contributions towards the security, openness, diversity and accessibility of the Internet.
The Awards were launched last week in conjunction with the 35th meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in Sydney. The categories are:
* Security – initiatives that are at the forefront of developing solutions to security threats and building trust and confidence in the online environment.
* Openness – initiatives that enable Internet users to benefit from increased access to online materials, knowledge or information.
* Access – initiatives that aim to combat the digital divide, facilitating access for groups such as the elderly, disabled or socially disadvantaged.
* Diversity – initiatives that encourage expressions of cultural diversity and identity, including the promotion of multilingualism and indigenous cultures online.
* A fifth award will be presented recognising the achievements of young Australians or New Zealanders. Applicants for the Youth Award can be eligible under any one of the four main themes.
Nominations for the Internet Best Practice Awards close on 31 August 2009. Winners will be announced in October and promoted at the next meeting of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in November.
For further information about the Awards see: www.bestpracticeawards.org.nz
LIZ DENGATE THRUSH INTERNET INDUSTRY AWARDS
The Liz Dengate Thrush Foundation will host its inaugural Internet Awards in August 2009, to acknowledge, reward and encourage Internet entrepreneurship and other positive uses of the Internet in New Zealand. The event is being held at Parliament Buildings and special guests include Dr Vint Cerf, and NZ Minister for ICT, Hon. Steven Joyce.
The Liz Dengate Thrush Foundation was established in memory of Liz Dengate Thrush, a New Zealand Internet identity who died in a car accident in 2006. Liz was a well known member of the global Internet community.
The Award categories encompass much of Liz’s vision and honour her memory by recognising educational, social and business contributions to New Zealand life involving the Internet. The categories are:
* Societal Impact - recognising the development of the application, product or services provided on the Internet likely to have the most beneficial impact on New Zealand society.
* Best Education Product or Service - recognising the application, product or services provided on the Internet likely to have the greatest impact on learning and/or teaching in New Zealand.
* Best Business Application Award - recognising those that transform their methods of doing business, or change our way of doing business with them.
* Internet Entrepreneur of the Year - recognising that rare breed of individual who has put capital and reputation on the line and successfully contributed to New Zealand’s wealth.
For further information about the Liz Dengate Thrush foundation see: www.ldtf.org.nz . For further information about the Awards contact:
Keith Davidson
Executive Director
InternetNZ
+64 4 495 2112
+64 21 377 587
exe.dir@internetnz.net.nz
