Government giving funding to internet meeting

The Government is giving nearly $100,000 towards an internet meeting to be held in Wellington later in the month.

Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard said a meeting of international internet body Icann (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) would get $95,500 in government funding.

Icann, the private sector not-for-profit organisation responsible for coordinating policy relating to internet domain names and addresses, is due to stage its next public meeting in New Zealand from March 27-31.

The meeting, hosted by internetNZ which would get the funding, comprised around 20 separate but related meetings for registries, registrars, country-code managers, intellectual property lawyers, internet users and government representatives.

"A conference of this size and significance has the potential to have major economic spin-offs for the New Zealand economy," Mr Mallard said.

"It presents a significant opportunity to promote New Zealand, our ICT industry and the Asia-Pacific region's importance to the global economy."

- NZPA