Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/22958-website-ipv6-support on April 26, 2024 00:53

Website IPv6 Support

Cody C made this Official Information request to Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited

The request was successful.

From: Cody C

Dear Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited,

Why are you not using IPv6 with your website? You appear to be using RedShield who can likely offer this service on your behalf at no additional cost.

Yours faithfully,

Cody C

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From: Cody C

Dear Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited,

Please acknowledge OIA.

Yours faithfully,

Cody C

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From: Company Secretary
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited

Dear Cody C,

We can confirm that your request for information made under the Official Information Act has been received and is being progressed.

We will respond to your request within 20 working days of the request having been made, and no later than Tuesday 4 April.

Please advise if you have any questions in the meantime.

MetService - Te Ratonga Tirorangi

t +64 4 4700 700 m +64 27 276 6062
Level 2, 110 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011 PO Box 722, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

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From: Nick Fagerlund
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited

Dear Cody

Thank you for your request for information under the Official Information Act, received on 30 May 2023.

You have asked:

Why are you not using IPv6 with your website? You appear to be using RedShield who can likely offer this service on your behalf at no additional cost.

Whilst we understand and appreciate the emerging global adoption of IPv6, it's important to clarify that for most end-users, including our valued customers, the switch from IPv4 to IPv6 currently offers little to no discernible difference in terms of user experience and functionality.
Our existing website setup, where our IP address is abstracted via our DNS name, has been serving our users reliably and effectively. We've designed our systems in a way that prioritizes the needs and experiences of our users. As of now, based on our observations and feedback, we do not see a compelling customer-oriented reason to shift to IPv6.
As for our partnership with RedShield, we continuously evaluate their offerings as well as other vendors to ensure that we are taking advantage of the most beneficial and value-driven services. We understand RedShield could offer IPv6 support, but as mentioned, at this time we do not see an immediate necessity for this switch based on our user requirements.
However, we're closely watching the evolution and adoption rates of IPv6. It is indeed on our radar for potential future updates, but any such change would only be implemented if we were confident it would bring tangible benefits to our users.
We hope this clarifies our position and we want to assure you that every technical decision we make has our users' best interest at heart. We appreciate your interest and welcome any further questions or suggestions you might have.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask. You have the right to seek and investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available on https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

Kind regards,

Nick Fagerlund
Legal Counsel & Company Secretary
MetService - Te Ratonga Tirorangi

t +64 4 4700 700 m +64 27 276 6062
Level 2, 110 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011
PO Box 722, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

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Cody C left an annotation ()

Disappointing. This would likely be a trivial change to make.

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From: Cody C

Dear Nick Fagerlund,

Thank you. That is disappointing.

Please note, you also calculated the days for the reply incorrectly, stating that "We will respond to your request within 20 working days of the request having been made, and no later than Tuesday 4 April.". This request was made in June so it would not have been possible to be due in April.

Yours sincerely,

Cody C

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Lance D. Lavery left an annotation ()

Reasons Advocating the Adoption of IPv6 by MetService:

Future-Proofing: While currently, the distinction between IPv4 and IPv6 may not be discernible for many end-users, an inevitable shift towards IPv6 is occurring due to the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. By embracing IPv6 now, MetService can ensure that its services remain accessible to all users as this transition gains momentum.

Enhanced Performance: Although not always perceptible to end-users, IPv6 can potentially offer superior performance over IPv4, attributable to its simplified packet header, efficient routing, and the absence of Network Address Translation (NAT).

Scalability: With the burgeoning number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, adopting IPv6 could facilitate scalability for any future expansion of MetService's services that involve communication between devices.

Superior Support for Mobile Devices: IPv6, due to its Mobile IPv6 feature, offers superior support for mobile devices. Given the likelihood that many MetService users access services via mobile devices, this could ensure a smoother user experience.

Bolstered Security: While security depends on numerous factors beyond the protocol version, the inbuilt support for IPsec in IPv6 could augment the security of communications.

Rebuttal of Potential Inaccuracies in the OIA Response:

"No Discernible Difference in User Experience": While it is valid to assert that most end-users might not currently notice a difference between IPv4 and IPv6, this statement may be construed as short-sighted. The global internet community is gradually transitioning towards IPv6. As such, it would be prudent for MetService to future-proof its website to align with this impending change.

"Little to No Discernible Difference in Terms of Functionality": IPv6 offers several improvements over IPv4, such as stateless address autoconfiguration, inbuilt IPsec support, and superior support for mobile devices. These are functional enhancements, regardless of whether they are immediately evident to end-users.

"We Do Not See a Compelling Customer-Oriented Reason to Shift to IPv6": While customers may not explicitly demand IPv6, its adoption could confer indirect benefits. For instance, it may ensure a smoother user experience due to efficient routing and better mobile support, improve website performance, and guarantee future compatibility. Moreover, as more internet service providers transition to IPv6, websites that do not support IPv6 might become less accessible to certain users.

However, it is important to acknowledge that transitioning to IPv6 is not a straightforward task and does necessitate an investment in terms of time, resources, and possibly hardware and software upgrades. Therefore, while there are compelling reasons to transition, these must be balanced against the cost and complexity of such an endeavour.

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