Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

NZ to vote against governments taking over internet

Updated at 10:26 pm on 23 November 2012

Information Technology Minister Amy Adams says New Zealand will try to block an international move by some governments to take over the running of the internet.

Mrs Adams made the announcement at the first regional internet community conference, NetHui South, in Dunedin on Friday.

Some 193 countries will meet in Dubai in December this year to discuss a move to extend global treat the International Telecommunications Regulations to also cover the internet, giving national governments much more control.

Mrs Adams says New Zealand will vote againt the move, because the not-for-profit agencies including ICANN, which organise the worldwide web, are doing a good job.

She says the current system allows stakeholders from governments, academia, business and the wider internet community to have input and has proven itself flexible enough to cope with rapid changes in technology.

Internet New Zealand chief executive Vikram Kumar applauded the New Zealand Government's stance, saying it is a huge step forward as government control of the internet would kill its openness and innovation.

Listen to report on Checkpoint

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand