Domain registration NZ: .nz, .co.nz or .com?
· 7 MIN READ
Domain registration in NZ explained: .nz vs .co.nz vs .com, how to register in your own name, renewals, locking, DNS basics and transferring a domain.
Domain registration in NZ is one of the cheapest and quickest parts of getting a business online, and one of the easiest to get wrong. The mistakes are rarely technical. They are about whose name the domain is in, who gets the renewal reminder, and what happens when you want to move.
This guide covers choosing between .nz, .co.nz and .com, how to register a domain yourself, renewals and locking, the DNS basics you need to know, and how transfers work. It is part of our guide on how to make a website in NZ.
What a domain name is
A domain name is the address people type to reach your website and the part after the @ in your email address. Behind the scenes, computers find each other by number, and the domain system translates your memorable name into the right number. Owning a domain means you control where that name points.
.nz vs .co.nz vs .com
New Zealand domains are managed by InternetNZ and overseen by the Domain Name Commission, and you register them through approved companies called registrars. Since 2014 you have been able to register a shorter .nz domain directly, alongside the familiar second level names like .co.nz.
| Extension | What it signals | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| .co.nz | A New Zealand business. Familiar and widely trusted here. | Most New Zealand businesses that trade locally |
| .nz | New Zealand, shorter and more modern | Businesses that want a short address, or whose .co.nz is taken |
| .com | International or global | Businesses selling overseas, or with a global brand |
| .org.nz and others | Specific types of organisation | Charities, community groups, schools and other sectors |
Some New Zealand second level names are moderated, which means only eligible organisations can register them. .govt.nz is the best known example. Most of the others, including .co.nz and .org.nz, are open to anyone.
Which .co.nz domain should you choose?
If your customers are mostly in New Zealand, a .co.nz domain is a safe default. People here recognise it instantly and it tells them you are local. Google also uses country domains as one signal that a site is relevant to people in that country.
If you can, register the .nz and .com versions of your name too, and point them at your main site. It stops someone else using them, catches people who type the wrong ending, and keeps your options open if you expand overseas later.
- Keep it short and easy to say over the phone
- Avoid hyphens and numbers that people have to spell out
- Check it does not read as something unfortunate when the words run together
- Make sure your business name is available as a company name and on social media too
Still choosing a name? Our free business name generator can help you find options that work as a domain as well.
How do I register my own domain?
Registering a domain yourself takes about ten minutes.
- Choose a registrar. For .nz names, use an authorised registrar listed by the Domain Name Commission. Many registrars also sell .com names.
- Search for the name you want and check which extensions are available.
- Add the domains to your cart and choose how many years to register for.
- Enter the registrant details: your own name or your company's legal name, and an email address you control.
- Pay, then confirm your contact details when the registrar emails you.
- Switch on auto renew and domain locking straight away.
Registration is charged per domain per year, and prices vary by registrar and extension. Check the provider's current NZ pricing, and look at the renewal price, not just the first year, because introductory offers often end after twelve months.
Register it in your own name
This is the single most important point in this guide. The registrant, the legal holder of the domain, should be you or your business. Not your web developer, not your nephew who set up the site, not a marketing agency.
It is fine to give your developer access to manage DNS settings. It is not fine for them to hold the domain itself. The same principle applies to your website code and hosting, which we cover in who owns your website code.
Can I permanently own a domain?
No. Nobody owns a domain outright and forever. When you register a domain you are really leasing the right to use it for a set period, usually one year at a time, though most registrars let you pay for several years in advance.
As long as you keep renewing it, the domain stays yours, indefinitely. If you let it lapse, there is usually a short grace period, after which the name is released and anyone can register it. Some people buy expired domains specifically to take advantage of the traffic they still get. Auto renew and up to date contact details are the protection.
Renewals and domain locking
- Turn on auto renew, and make sure the card on file will not expire before the next renewal.
- Use an email address for the account that you will still have in five years, ideally on your own domain.
- Put the renewal date in your calendar anyway, in case the card fails.
- Turn on domain locking. It stops the domain being transferred away without your explicit approval.
- Turn on two factor authentication for your registrar account. Your domain controls your website and your email.
DNS basics in plain English
DNS (the Domain Name System) is the set of instructions that tells the internet where your domain points. You do not need to understand it deeply, but it helps to know the common records you or your developer will change:
| Record | What it does |
|---|---|
| A record | Points your domain to the server address where your website lives |
| CNAME | Points one name at another name, often used for the www version or a website builder |
| MX records | Tell the internet where to deliver your email |
| TXT records | Hold verification codes and email security settings such as SPF and DKIM |
| Nameservers | Say which company holds all of the other records for your domain |
Changes to DNS can take a little while to spread across the internet, sometimes a few hours. That is normal. When you change web hosts, be careful to update only the website records, so your email keeps working. Our guide to NZ web hosting explains why it pays to keep email hosting separate from your website.
Transferring a domain
You can move your domain from one registrar to another at any time. For .nz domains, the transfer uses a code called a UDAI (Unique Domain Authentication ID). For .com and most other international domains, it uses an authorisation code, often called an EPP code.
- Unlock the domain at your current registrar.
- Request the transfer code. For .nz names this is the UDAI.
- Start the transfer at the new registrar and enter the code.
- Approve any confirmation emails that arrive.
- Check your DNS records came across correctly, so your website and email keep working.
One thing to know: .com domains usually cannot be transferred for 60 days after they are first registered or last transferred. Moving a domain does not move your website. The site stays on its host and only the domain's management moves.
Domains and website builders
Many website builders will sell you a domain when you sign up. It is convenient, but it ties your address to your builder. If you register the domain separately and point it at the builder, you can change platforms later without touching your domain or your email. Our comparison of website builders in NZ covers what else to check before you sign up.
A quick domain checklist
- Registered in your name or your company's name
- Contact email you control and check
- Auto renew on, with a valid card
- Domain lock on
- Two factor authentication on the registrar account
- Logins stored somewhere safe that someone else in the business can also reach
Get those six things right and your domain will quietly do its job for as long as your business exists. If you would like help setting up your domain, hosting and site together, our small business website design service handles it, with everything registered in your name.