.NZ Launches Second Level Registrations On 30 September

From 13:00 New Zealand time on 30 September, second level registrations became available for the country’s ccTLD .nz.

The change means shorter, simpler, more representative names directly under .nz can now be registered – for example, anyname.nz. This is in addition to, for example, .co.nz, .org.nz, .maori.nz, etc.

For existing registrants, most will be able to get the shorter version of their name before anyone else and take advantage of a six-month period of time – called the Preferential Registration Eligibility (PRE) period – to register or reserve the shorter version.

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.

The anyname.nz website is where .nz domain name holders can go to check their eligibility. Those with preferential eligibility can reserve for free for up to two years the shorter version of their name. Or, if their name is conflicted, use the conflicted names tool.

Holders of .nz domain name holders who aren’t interested should know that the change will have no effect on their existing .nz name and their name will continue to work as it always has.

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 d 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.”

For more information visit anyname.nz.