.nz to offer new registrant privacy option

Media Release 7 June 2017 

.nz to offer new registrant privacy option

The Domain Name Commission is pleased to have completed a review of the whois domain registrant search. After five rounds of consultation and 133 submissions from individuals and organisations whose input has led the development of this policy to become a major change in the .nz space. This change is a credit to all of those who submitted.

The Commission is excited to announce from the 28th of November 2017 individual registrants who are not in trade will be able to choose to withhold their phone number and contact address from publicly appearing in the domain registrant search. This means that while registrants are still accountable, they can access improved privacy controls if they choose to. 

The option to withhold contact information will be available from the 28th of November 2017 with all .nz registrars having to offer the service from 28th of  March 2018. This timeline allows the registry and registrars to make any changes required in their systems. 

The Domain Name Commissioner Debbie Monahan is pleased with the robust discussion around this privacy measure and encourages individual registrants to think about using this option if they feel it's best for them.