New Shorter .NZ Domains Names Now Available For Registration

The .nz registry has started offering shorter .nz (New Zealand) ccTLD domain names.

From yesterday 1pm, 30 September 2014, ‘second level’ domains like the .co in ‘.co.nz’ and the .org in ‘.org.nz’ became optional. You’ll be able to get .nz names with them, without them, or both.

Registering one of these new, shorter .nz names is called registering directly at the second level.

Most people who already have a .nz domain name will be able to get the shorter version of their name before anyone else and take advantage of a six-month period of time starting at 1pm today – called the Preferential Registration Eligibility (PRE) period – to register or reserve the shorter version.

The PRE period ends at 1pm, 30 March 2015.

Other .nz domain name holders may find their name is ‘conflicted’ – which means they may have the .co.nz version, while others may have .org.nz, .net.nz, or other versions. In cases like these, an online tool is available for those involved to lodge a preference for who might get the new, shorter version of the name.

You may have ‘Preferential Registration Eligibility’ if you are an Existing Registrant. This means you could register or reserve the shorter version of your .nz domain name before it becomes available to anyone else.

If you have a .nz domain name, you’re an existing registrant. It’s important to know that you may be eligible to register or reserve the shorter version of your .nz domain name before it becomes available to anyone else. To find out if you’re eligible, check the status of your domain name. Or, talk to your Registrar – the company or organisation you registered your name through.

If you are eligible and don’t want to register or reserve the shorter version of your domain name, that’s fine. You’ll still be able to use your domain name as you always have.

Domain Name Commissioner Debbie Monahan says today’s change allowing registrations directly at the second level is a watershed day for the .nz domain name space and is the biggest change since the introduction of the competitive Shared Registry System in 2002.

“The introduction of this new type of .nz name means people can now opt for a more representative .nz option. This option will appeal to all sorts of people, from individuals to businesses, to anyone who wants to represent themselves online with .nz.”

“The important thing is that anybody who already has a .nz domain name goes to anyname.nz to check out their options and, if they’ve got preferential eligibility or a conflicted name, to know that they can take action from 1pm today.”

Remember, to find out if you’re eligible check your New Zealand domain name status here.

What does your status mean?

• Will be Available

  you can try and register the shorter version of the name on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis from 1pm, 30 September 2014.

• Will be Conflicted

  your name has been registered in at least two second levels. To get the shorter version you’ll need to go through the ‘conflict’ process from 1pm, 30 September 2014.

• Will be PRR

  you’ve got Preferential Registration or Reservation eligibility and can register or reserve the shorter version of your name before anyone else.

• Will be Prohibited

  no-one is able to register the shorter version of the name.

Visit the new .nz FAQ here.