Domain Names

There is no specific New Zealand legislation regarding management of the top level Registry or sub-domain.

The Internet Society of New Zealand Incorporated (Internet NZ) is ICANN’s appointed NZ Registry. Internet NZ manages the .nz top-level and sub-level domains through the Office of the Domain Name Commissioner.

Filing

Country code top-level domain name: .nz 

Sub-domains: .gen.nz; .iwi.nz; .cri.nz; .maori.nz; .mil.nz; .ac.nz; .school.nz; .govt.nz; .parliament.nz; .org.nz; .co.nz; .net.nz; .geek.nz; .health.nz; .kiwi.nz 

Applicant: individuals and legal entities.

Restriction as to nationality: none.

Local presence: not required.

Domestic trademark right: not required for obtaining domain name registration.

Domain name can be registered as a trademark: if meets trademark registrability requirements (see in Trademark Section under “Registrable“).

Registration, Protection

Duration: one to 120 months, typically one year.

Renewal/maintenance: renewable for one to 120 months (although many Registrars only offer annual renewals).

Dispute about ownership: with the Domain Name Commission’s Dispute Resolution Service or the courts.

Uniform dispute resolution procedure: none, but an administrative procedure other than UDRP is available before the Domain Name Commission’s Dispute Resolution Service.

Registration Authority

Authority name: Domain Name Commission – DNC (subsidiary of InternetNZ).

Internet address: https://dnc.org.nz