How to keep your .nz domain name safe

With the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, we are seeing a spike in .nz domain name registrations as more businesses make a move online. So it is important, now more than ever, to understand what you can do to protect your .nz domain name.

At the Domain Name Commission, we often hear about stolen or lapsed ownership of domain names, which could have been avoided in most cases. 

The most important thing to do is keep your registration details up to date. 

A good time to double-check your registration details is when you renew your domain name, or you could even check today!  

Check your details today

Make sure you can answer these questions:

Who is your .nz domain registered to? 

• You can check whose name is on the registration record by going to https://dnc.org.nz/whois and doing a whois search on your domain name 

Who is your .nz domain registrar? 

• The registrar for your domain is the company or the parent company of the organisation which you purchased the domain from. You can find out who this is and their contact information by doing a domain name search and requesting more details - see image below.

When does your .nz domain name renew? 

• You can find this information at the top of your domain names registration when you do a whois search. You can also see when the domain name was first registered, and when your billing expires, as well as the date when the last change was made to the domain name. These details are in the image below.

Keep your registered details accurate

The .nz domain name space values accountability and transparency. This is why .nz registration details of companies and businesses are public. Individuals may choose to use Individual Registrant Privacy Option (IRPO), if they are not using the domain name for significant trade.

When you register a .nz domain name, you need to provide some contact details. These include your name, address, telephone number and email address. We refer to these as your “registrant information.”

Experience shows that many small to medium businesses register their domain name using personal information. This is fine, but it is important to regularly check that we have your correct details.

Having the right details listed on the registration record is important to domain name security. One example is the “registrant name” field. You should ensure your name, or your company’s name is listed here. If someone else is registering a domain name for you, make sure they register it in your name.

Choose your contact details carefully

As the domain name holder, you have a responsibility to provide accurate details. The important thing is to make sure that the right person can be contacted easily. 

We often see a domain name being registered to a disgruntled former employee who renews the domain name but then changes all the contact information or just ignores the need for renewal and lets the domain ownership lapse.

For example, if your domain name is registered in your web developer’s name, and they go out of business, it might be difficult for you to regain control of the domain name. 

If either of the two above scenarios are relevant, please email [email protected]

If your contact details are accurate, you can be contacted if anything goes wrong with your domain name. 

For example, if suspicious activity is detected coming from your domain name, appropriate organisations will be able to get in touch with you.

We recommend using an email address that is not associated with your domain name. This means you will still be able to access your email if the domain name registration lapses. The contact email address is often used to confirm who the registrant is—so it’s important you always have access to it.

How do I change my registrant information?

To change your registrant contact information, you will have to contact your registrar. If you do not get a response within 5 days please contact us at [email protected]

The Domain Name Commission, along with InternetNZ, has an important role to play in keeping the .nz domain safe and secure. Check your domain name details today.