Found this leaked press release. Interesting reading.
Cheers, Colin
Google to Shutdown Search Engine in New Zealand
Google has announced that it will close its search engine in New Zealand,
effective April 1, 2010. This shock announcement follows a confession by the
manager of the Censorship Compliance Unit of the New Zealand Department of
Internal Affairs (DIA) Steve O'Brien to internet freedom campaigners Tech
Liberty
Google, still stinging from adverse publicity over its row with the government
of China said that it is taking a "proactive stance" with the New Zealand
government, noting the "outrageous subterfuge" and questionable legal practices
that the New Zealand government has engaged in over this issue.
While some ISPs including market leaders Telecom and TelstraClear have tipped
that they will use the voluntary filter already secretly tested by ISPs
Watchdog and Maxnet, other ISPs, including Slingshot, Orcon and Whoosh have
said they will not be using the filter.
Google, echoing the editorial posted by New Zealand Tech Liberty, said that the
New Zealand government has no legal mandate to filter the Internet, that the
action violates the New Zealand Bill of Rights, that this move is doubtless a
smokescreen to censor politically oriented websites the NZ government
disapproves of, and that such filters are completely ineffective.
"We are as opposed to child pornography as anyone", noted the Google spokeman
who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We have a cozy relationship with many
Western government agencies, including the CIA. Believe me, we do more than our
part to assist law enforcement agencies in their search for illegal
activities," he added.
Google has already received complaints from the New Zealand government and from
New Zealand ISPs. One firm's spokesman, who preferred to remain anonymous,
complained that because of New Zealand's small population, it was convenient
for Google to "make an example" of New Zealand. Google said it is "standing
firm" on its decision to shut off its search engine in New Zealand unless the
New Zealand government relents on its censorship plans.
It appears rather clear now that a compromise between Google and New Zealand is
far from arriving. Google would rather close down its search engine before it
will compromise on illegal censorship.
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