About IAB
About IAB - Background
In 2001 a number of leading media organisations, including XtraMSN, TVNZ, NZ Herald, Yellow Pages, Stuff.co.nz, IDG, NetGuide and Vodafone banded together, with the assistance of CAANZ and The Internet Bureau, to establish an independent web site measurement standard. This media gathering became informally known as the Online Publishers Group or the OPG.
In 2002 Red Sheriff (now known as Nielsen/Netratings), in conjunction with Phoenix Research, tendered and won the New Zealand rights to provide the aforementioned subscription based service. This service is still successfully operating today with over 200 sites represented.
The OPG continued to meet informally to discuss industry issues but with no authority to represent the online industry. The OPG acknowledged that its base of attendees could be a more effective agent for the growth and maturity of the industry if it were a recognised and formalised association.
To this end the OPG decided to evaluate the viability of a formal independent group that represents the broad interests of the New Zealand Interactive Industry. A survey was conducted in November 2005. The results from the survey are attached in Schedule B of this document. In summary the results showed:
- Strong support for an official body to represent and grow New Zealand’s online industry
- An overwhelming belief that there was a strong synergy between non-profit and commercial internet publishers
- A lack of an existing organisation that the group could align itself with to achieve the aforementioned objectives
As a result of this survey, the group reviewed its options, which included maintaining the status quo, becoming a holistic “publisher association” that represented broad online publishing issues or refining its focus to the challenges surrounding interactive advertising. They decided it was their preference to proceed with an official interactive advertising body that would have greater industry reach to current and potential members.
The group has become a national member of the international association – the Interactive Advertising Bureau. The IAB NZ will be a not-for-profit association under the governance of a board (including Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer) until the first AGM, at which point members will have the opportunity to pass comment on the board structure and its members.
In the meantime, the board will keep stakeholders apprised of legislative activities and progress on desired outcomes. It is envisaged that work will be divided among board/committee members and the Chief Executive who will run a management team and lead the day to day activities of the association.
