Proposal for Formalising relationships with ICANN and the New Zealand Government

Though InternetNZ holds the delegation for the .nz domain name space, there is currently no documentation regarding this, either with ICANN as the international governance body, or with the New Zealand Government. In the absence of some form of formal arrangement with ICANN there is a (small) risk arising from the possibility that the .nz entry in the Root could be deleted or corrupted. In the absence of a formal agreement with the New Zealand Government there is a potential for .nz policies to be overridden by regulation or that another agency could be asked to take over operation of the Registry, thus putting the operation of the New Zealand Internet at risk.

At a previous meeting, I updated Council on discussions at the NZOC Strategy Day regarding formalising the relationships with ICANN and the New Zealand Government in respect of InternetNZ’s delegation of the .nz ccTLD. I would now like to formally propose that the InternetNZ Council agree that NZOC should commence planning with a view to entering into appropriate arrangements with both ICANN and the NZ Government.

In making this proposal, I am aware of the decision made at the previous Council meeting on 16 June 2006 that “Council agreed to advise ICANN that it has decided to defer consideration of entering into an Accountability Framework, and will look for signs that ICANN is positively responding to a path forward.”

However, it is NZOC’s view that though there are issues currently with ICANN and how they are performing, the Accountability Framework (or Exchange of Letters) essentially relates to how the ccTLD is operated rather than issues in a wider sphere that arise between InternetNZ and ICANN. These should not be prejudiced by commencing the process of evaluating options for a formal relationship with ICANN over .nz management.

NZOC also consider it will be beneficial to commence steps to formalise the relationship with the New Zealand Government so that the ongoing operation of the .nz domain name space is secure within InternetNZ. This is particularly important given that there have been issues raised within government circles regarding present .nz administration policies and InternetNZ’s role in the .nz operation.

It is NZOC’s current thinking that separate, but parallel, processes should be put in place to look at the ICANN arrangement and the NZ Government relationship. Detailed planning has not been done but it is envisaged that any project/s looking at this issue will require considerable consultation both within, and external to, InternetNZ.

Should the InternetNZ Council agree that NZOC can pursue this matter we expect to develop a draft project plan, incorporating possible membership of working groups and consultation requirements, and submit it to the next Council meeting in October for consideration.

Council is asked to consider this document and agree that NZOC should proceed in developing a project outline for formalising the relationship with both ICANN and the New Zealand Government. If that is agreed, then NZOC will bring their plans to the next InternetNZ Council meeting for approval before commencing.

Chair, NZOC