Summarised by Centrist
InternetNZ is considering new restrictions on who may become a member after the Free Speech Union recruited about 2,400 supporters to join the organisation and vote in its board elections.
Members elect InternetNZ directors, giving them influence over the organisation responsible for managing New Zealand’s .nz domain system.
The Free Speech Union says InternetNZ board minutes show directors discussing membership eligibility and seeking legal advice, with the proposed review linked to providing “assurance” to the government.
However, no new membership restrictions have yet been formally proposed or adopted.
The union says its recruitment campaign was “lawful, within every rule” and intended to challenge InternetNZ’s spending on grants, partnership funding and “misinformation initiatives”.
It argues that revenue collected through .nz domain fees should primarily support a reliable, secure and affordable domain system, rather than causes unrelated to that function.
“This is the body that now wants to review who is entitled to hold it to account,” Free Speech Union council chairman Stephen Franks said.
The union is asking whether the government requested changes to InternetNZ’s membership rules, or whether the board is independently seeking to reassure officials.
“Why are you reviewing who is allowed to be a member, and therefore a voter?” Franks asked.
Two board positions are being contested. The union is backing barrister Douglas Brown and executive director Jillaine Heather, arguing InternetNZ should remain politically neutral and protect lawful expression regardless of viewpoint.
Voting opened on July 24 and closes on August 10.
