Did InternetNZ squeeze Tuanz? CEO responds
The Telecommunications Users Association has laid off all its staff, leaving only chief executive Paul Brislen.
Last night, Mr Brislen told NBR that Tuanz's events suffered a sponsorship squeeze, and difficulty attracting attendees when InternetNZ's new NetHui event (which debuted last year) offered tickets at a fraction of the cost.
If you have limited time, "And if you're going to choose a conference, do you go to the $30 one or the $800 one?," Mr Brislen said.
This morning, Mr Kumar responded to NBR, "Events in the telco and Internet industry span from free (such as this week's High Speed Broadband Opportunities conference organised by the Commerce Commission) to thousands of dollars a day."
He added, "Within that space, NetHui is meant for the wider community and attracts many people who typically don't attend conferences regularly. This is in keeping with the goal and essence of NetHui."
Mr Kumar indicated that his organisation did not have problems finding sponsorship.
"When we did our numbers for NetHui, we found that the main financial contribution to running the event from registration fees was small. So we decided to reduce the attendance cost to a minimum while maximising
the financial contribution from sponsors seeing value in the event, including InternetNZ itself."
In terms of InternetNZ recently turning down a grant application from Tuanz, Mr Kumar said:
"The criteria by which InternetNZ evaluates all grants requests is published at internetnz.net.nz/our-work/funding. This includes our legal obligations as a registered charity.
"One of the criteria is: 'not lead to any pecuniary gain for any organisation or individual outside normal employment or contract compensation'."
"What this means is that InternetNZ funds projects or initiatives that are for the public good rather than financial gain for the organisation."
Mr Brislen said he accepted InternetNZ's logic. His organisation was in alternative research partnership talks with parties including StatisticsNZ and the University of Auckland.
The funding was only for one year. Tuanz restructure was designed to make it sustainable in the long term.
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Comments and questions9
InternetNZ is not a charity. It receives funds from selling domain names.
that is not a charitable action, it is a money making venture. That it uses the money for good works is irrelevent in the eyes of the law.
Not for Profit is a better term for InternetNZ.
InternetNZ is a not-for-profit. That comes from our constitution as an incorporated society.
It is also registered with the Charities Commission. Legally, whether or not an organisation is a charity eligible for registration depends if it has a 'charitable purpose':
1. Fall within one of the four charitable purposes set out in section 5(1) of the Charities Act, and
2. provide a public benefit, and
3. Not be aimed at creating private financial profit.
It is on this basis that InternetNZ is also a registered charity.
Vikram Kumar
CE, InternetNZ
TUANZ is dead, deceased, passed away, gone, history, toast, finito. Internetnz surely sees this, as does everybody else except the handful of TUANZ members who think copper circuitry is the way of the future. TUANZ has no relevance, it is a voice from the past and it is surely dreaming if it would think that Internetnz, Statisticsnz, or the University of Auckland or anyone else for that matter, would want to pour good money after bad in enabling TUANZ a further temporary reprieve from its inevitable passing.
You must work for a telco. TUANZ has done a great job fending off the evils of rapacious telcos and you'd be glad to see the back of them.
If they have no relevence, why are you so ANGRY about them, eh?
"The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand failed to gain charitable tax status, because although the advancement of the science of engineering is beneficial to the general public, a significant part of its function is to act as a professional organisation for the benefit of engineers."
InternetNZ does a lot of things, most of them self-serving like flying former councillors around the world on junkets. The vast bulk of its earnings come in from registration of domain names and that is a commercial activity and should be taxed as such.
I don't see why the charitable status of an organisation should be determined based on the methods by which it obtains its funding. By your logic, the Girl Guides should be deregistered because they raise funds by selling cookies - which is a commercial activity.
It seems to me like you are letting your dislike of InternetNZ in particular cloud your judgement.
Who freaking cares!!!! The cult of brislen has to end.
I have a cult? That's cool! who knew...
As has been said before, I wouldn't belong to any cult which had me as a leader.
Cheers
Paul
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