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New Zealand is lucky to have one of the most open and easy to work with domain name systems in the world. This article covers the basics of .nz domain name rules and policies.

Registering a domain
Any person (over the age of 18) or company can register a .nz domain name for up-to 10 years, registrations are handled on behalf of the DNC (Domain Name Commission) by companies who are authorized as domain registrars.

Unlike gTLD (.com, .net etc..) domain names you cannot request a private or anonymous registration; in addition to this the registrar must be an actual person or legal entity with correct contact details.

Transferring a .nz domain name
It is free to move .nz domain names between registrars; the process involves requesting a “UDAI” code from your current registrar, then providing this to the new registrar. There are no fees or renewals required to do this and a registrar is not allowed to withhold this code from you.

Expired Domains
When a domain name expires, it goes into a “Pending Release” state for 90 days in which the current owner can renew the domain name at no penalty or risk of losing the domain.

At the end of 90 days the domain is released for anyone to register.

First in, first served
Domain names are first in, first served so it is always recommended that you secure domain names for your business without delay as it is far more costly to dispute the ownership if you miss out.

The DNC however does have rules about the fair use and ownership of domain names. If you own a business or a brand and a competitor or squatter has purchased a domain name that you believe should rightfully be yours you can file a dispute with the DNC via their Dispute Resolution Service. In this process a mediator will be engaged to help broker a deal between the two parties, if a deal cannot be reached the complainant can pay a fee to have a decision enforced.