Attempt underway by free spech union to gain infuence in InternetNZ

Forums › ICT Policies and Regulation › Attempt underway by free spech union to gain infuence in InternetNZ

LostOhSoLost

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#319171 29-Mar-2025 21:38

This doesn't seem to have made an appearance on the boards.

It appears that the Free Speech Union is attempting to gain influence in InternetNZ claim that they are engaged in a woke restructure and it has seen an order of increase in members.

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC2503/S00056/download-weekly-extra-internetnz-disrupted.htm

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#3358636 29-Mar-2025 21:57

I recommend those who can, join InternetNZ and pay the dues so they can vote and prevent the "Free Speech Union" from taking over with their infantile culture wars.

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boosacnoodle

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#3358642 29-Mar-2025 22:55

I'd far rather that they vote for something more meaningful, such as dropping the .nz domain name price (given that it's essentially just a glorified DNS service).

Ragnor

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#3358645 30-Mar-2025 00:17

Why are these good changes?

Reducing the number of elected board members in favour of more appointed members > Usually leads to appoint your mate-ism and increased corruption
Making the chair co-governed and requiring of one of the chairs to be of particular ancestry > Imagine the outrage if they mandated the other chair must be of ancestral origin of the other party to the treaty...
Aiming to have 3 board members of a particular ancestry, requiring at least 1 mandatory: Shouldn't people of any ancestry have an equal shot at any of the seats, you know based on skills/competence

Refer to: https://internetnz.nz/assets/Constitution-Review/FINAL-PROPOSED-2025-Constitution-of-Internet-New-Zealand-Incorporated-17-March-2025.pdf

SaltyNZ

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#3358670 30-Mar-2025 08:43

boosacnoodle:

I'd far rather that they vote for something more meaningful, such as dropping the .nz domain name price (given that it's essentially just a glorified DNS service).

I guess if you join you can press for that too.

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Handle9

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#3358797 30-Mar-2025 19:28

Ragnor:

Why are these good changes?

Reducing the number of elected board members in favour of more appointed members > Usually leads to appoint your mate-ism and increased corruption
Making the chair co-governed and requiring of one of the chairs to be of particular ancestry > Imagine the outrage if they mandated the other chair must be of ancestral origin of the other party to the treaty...
Aiming to have 3 board members of a particular ancestry, requiring at least 1 mandatory: Shouldn't people of any ancestry have an equal shot at any of the seats, you know based on skills/competence
Refer to: https://internetnz.nz/assets/Constitution-Review/FINAL-PROPOSED-2025-Constitution-of-Internet-New-Zealand-Incorporated-17-March-2025.pdf

Do you really think you are accomplishing anything by not saying Maori or British?

wellygary

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#3358801 30-Mar-2025 19:42

freitasm:

I recommend those who can, join InternetNZ and pay the dues so they can vote and prevent the "Free Speech Union" from taking over with their infantile culture wars.

Joining now is too late which ever way you intended to vote..

The AGM to vote on the constitution is Monday 31st March 2025 ( Monday)
https://internetnz.nz/news-and-articles/proposed-constitution-to-be-voted-on-at-sgm-internetnz/

But
"As has been the case since August 2010, members will need to have been a member of InternetNZ for at least three months to be eligible to vote."
https://internetnz.nz/news-and-articles/internetnzs-proposed-constitution-released/

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Behodar

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#3358804 30-Mar-2025 20:06

You can't vote in the AGM, but you'd be able to vote in the future.

Batman

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#3358815 30-Mar-2025 21:46

boosacnoodle:

I'd far rather that they vote for something more meaningful, such as dropping the .nz domain name price (given that it's essentially just a glorified DNS service).

can you explain? so if i have a .nz domain, it's not a real domain?

BlakJak

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#3358819 30-Mar-2025 22:13

boosacnoodle:

I'd far rather that they vote for something more meaningful, such as dropping the .nz domain name price (given that it's essentially just a glorified DNS service).

Really? It's not like they charge a lot of money for .nz names. They have some value, they're worth buying. Domains registered in the very-cheap-or-free range have a correspondingly lower reputational standing because they get more abuse.

InternetNZ is in a useful position for helping advocate for an 'uncapturable' Internet, for as long as we fight for this, I believe it's worth supporting. And some of the stuff around the FSU is quite spooky, to be honest.

No signature to see here, move along...

Lias

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#3358820 30-Mar-2025 22:27

freitasm:

I recommend those who can, join InternetNZ and pay the dues so they can vote and prevent the "Free Speech Union" from taking over with their infantile culture wars.

There is a 3 month period after joining where you can't vote, so anyone joining now and wanting to vote (either way) can't.

I do note that the FSU "raised the alarm" after comments by former Judge David Harvey (who has long been involved with InternetNZ) that the InternetNZ constitutional changes were undemocratic. I haven't always agreed with him, but during his career as a judge he had a far better understanding of the internet than anyone else in the judiciary. If he's concerned about the changes I think we all should be.

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BlakJak

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#3358822 30-Mar-2025 22:33

Lias: If he's concerned about the changes I think we all should be.

I have a looooong history with InternetNZ and many of its past luminaries - and i've been at least acquainted with Judge David Harvey for a long time as well. Sorry but this doesn't fit the situation... the concerns are being well overblown by FSU and their antics and actions here are of real concern. Read this from Bill Bennett to help illustrate. https://billbennett.co.nz/internetnz-disrupted/

No signature to see here, move along...

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Lias

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#3358824 30-Mar-2025 22:45

BlakJak:

I have a looooong history with InternetNZ and many of its past luminaries - and i've been at least acquainted with Judge David Harvey for a long time as well. Sorry but this doesn't fit the situation... the concerns are being well overblown by FSU and their antics and actions here are of real concern. Read this from Bill Bennett to help illustrate. https://billbennett.co.nz/internetnz-disrupted/

I've read it. I don't see how it illustrates that Judge Harvey's comments shouldn't be cause for concern, even if the FSU is politicising them.

boosacnoodle

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#3358845 31-Mar-2025 08:53

Batman:

boosacnoodle:

I'd far rather that they vote for something more meaningful, such as dropping the .nz domain name price (given that it's essentially just a glorified DNS service).

can you explain? so if i have a .nz domain, it's not a real domain?

No - I'm saying that $20.70 (incl. GST) is expensive and it really shouldn't be that much.

SaltyNZ

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#3358846 31-Mar-2025 08:58

This is going to veer into Politics any second now ...

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freitasm

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#3358858 31-Mar-2025 09:31

boosacnoodle:

Batman:

boosacnoodle:

I'd far rather that they vote for something more meaningful, such as dropping the .nz domain name price (given that it's essentially just a glorified DNS service).

can you explain? so if i have a .nz domain, it's not a real domain?

No - I'm saying that $20.70 (incl. GST) is expensive and it really shouldn't be that much.

This is $2.38/month. Nothing compared with other infrastructure costs.

It's not a glorified DNS service.

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