.nz news & views

	Friday, 30 July 2004

InternetNZ AGM If anyone is going to the InternetNZ AGM today can they pick up an extra copy of all the handouts for me. This is the first AGM since 1999 I have not attended. This is due to the 12 step programme (kidding). 10:33:29 AM      Like to comment? []

	Thursday, 29 July 2004

domainz.net.nz is not valid (so they say) Back in the dark ages of .nz (AKA the DRS days) Domainz had an interesting way to handle registering their own domain name (domainz.net.nz). The search logic had a block on searching on the string ‘domainz’ in any 2LD. This was because the name in fact wasn’t actually a regular name in the DRS it was kind of hard coded in the system. The same search block was done on any 2 letter domain name when the .nz policy did not allow a ccTLD string to be registered. You could still use the email template to try and sneak the name past the eyes of an Irishman, but that's another story. The SRS has been live for approx. 18 months now and Domainz still has the block on searching on their website on any 2LD string with domainz in it. It responds with: Please provide a valid domain name for the .nz Register The legacy of the DRS still haunts us… 3:54:39 PM      Like to comment? []

Whois Review working group formed The DNC (no, not this one) is calling for interest in joining the Whois Review working group. It is being chaired by David Russell which should make the results and the input more interesting than normal. 8:44:27 AM      Like to comment? []

www.maori.nz updated Looks like www.maori.nz is back to being apolitical. AMIO website has a posting about making a complaint to the DNC about this. I am not sure what grounds the DNC would have to get it changed other than an unofficial 'we should talk' type phone call. This entire process I think is one of the reasons why 2LD applicants should get NO special treatment with regard to domain name allocation post 2LD creation approval. 8:32:15 AM      Like to comment? []

	Monday, 19 July 2004

Actrix gets hit with registrar sanction DNC has just issued a Registrar Sanction to Actrix. They canceled a name due to non payment from other Actrix services. This is a no no and was a key recommendation of the SRS Working Group to ensure registrants were not held to ransom for bill disputes etc. The sanction is only 24 hours. 12:44:21 PM      Like to comment? []

	Thursday, 15 July 2004

China comments Shenzhen was great. No real reason to visit as a tourist, other than in transit, but everyone was very friendly and helpful no matter where I was. Almost no English spoken and it was to the point that if I went to a bar or restaurant that the hosts or others would comment that 'foreigners' were in the place. Most menus have enough pictures or limited English to be able to order, and point at food on other tables helps :-) Internet access was about 1-2Mbps with no obvious delay for international sites, for those that I could reach. 5:33:31 PM      Like to comment? []

www.maori.nz? Just saw on AMIO that www.maori.nz links to a political party. Interesting turn of events. 5:28:24 PM      Like to comment? []

	Monday, 12 July 2004

Maori Party links? Herald has a small story about domain names for the Maori Party. Curious thing is looking at the registrant details I dont think they are 'official'... gee, linking to ACT and Labour wasnt a clue or anything. Check out yourself maoriparty.co.nz and maoriparty.org.nz 10:43:16 AM      Like to comment? []

	Sunday, 11 July 2004

China and the Internet Well, first time in China (if Shenzhen counts as the 'real' China). It is just like Hong Kong (think New Territories) but with no signs in English. Curiously I cant access some websites likes ones relating to Falun Gong. I guess parts of the intraweb thing must be down! 10:21:22 PM      Like to comment? []

	Friday, 9 July 2004

ICANN meets Helen Clark? Might as well do a quick link to the story about InternetNZ writing the proposal to try and host a ICANN meeting. This was thought about back when Peter Dengate Thrush was Chair. PS Should I lend some international adapter plugs to the society? :-) 8:41:38 AM      Like to comment? []

Updates will occur soon, I promise! Yes, I know during June the blog was quiet. I have bunch of stuff to review InternetNZ council meetings, NZOC meetings, 2LD WG updates and bunch of other stuff. I will work on soon but I am flying to Shenzhen in China tomorrow so it will have to wait another week :-) 8:37:45 AM      Like to comment? []

God vs little guy Herald has a story on the Mormon Church vs the registrant of familysearch.co.nz. I saw this on 20/20 or 60 Minutes or one of the other cloned news magazine stories on the weekend. The story does not have many errors in it but does have some interesting comments (or lack of comments) from Simply Gruesome, Frank March, and the IP Office. My major beef with this is not the story but comments that a .nz dispute process would help in this matter. It wont. I see two possible outcomes with a .nz dispute for this domain name. 1, Registrant Wins. If this is the case I would bet money that the church would go to court anyway. The dispute process will not stop this occurring. 2, The church wins and the registrant does not have the money to go to court to get it back. 8:35:28 AM      Like to comment? []