Register a domain name in pending release?

We have put together a number of ‘How do I guides’ for commonly asked questions that we receive at the Domain Name Commission.

We understand that sometimes issues can be complex and these guides might not have all the answers that relate to your specific problem. If this is the case please contact us.

What is pending release?

Domain names are registered for a specific length of time (anywhere from 1 month to 10 years), when your registration expires your domain name goes into pending release. You are able to renew your domain name before the registration term expires.

Pending release lasts for 90 days before your domain name is released to the general public. When it is released it is able to be registered on a first-come-first-served basis. Pending release lasts 90 days from the date of cancellation, you can view the date of the cancellation on the registration record. See ‘Search for a domain name’.  

The current registrant (domain name holder) can reinstate the domain name anytime while it is in pending release. During this period, any services associated with the domain name (like email or website hosting) will stop working.

If you want to register a domain name in pending release, there are two options available:

Option 1: Contact the current registrant.

Try contacting the current registrant and negotiating with them directly for the registration. You can find the contact details of the registrant on the domain name registration record.

If they agree, you will need to contact the current registrar (domain name provider) and ask them to action the transfer.

Domain names are able to be transferred while in pending release, this provides you with more certainty when it comes to acquiring the domain name. 

Option 2: Approach a .nz authorised registrar

Some registrars provide a service where they will try and register the domain name for you once it becomes available.

There can be intense competition for domain names once they are released, it is best to contact a number of registrars beforehand to get them to try and secure the domain name for you. Some registrars offer a ‘bidding’ service to try and secure the domain name.

Full list of .nz authorised registrars.

What do you mean by bidding service?

Some registrars try to secure the domain name coming out of pending release to the highest bidder. Bidding services differ between .nz authorised registrars. 

There is no guarantee that the registrar you have approached will be able to register the domain name for you, though. You should only be charged for a domain name if the registrar successfully registers the domain name for you. 

We recommend contacting more than one registrar to try and secure the domain name for you. Each registrar is restricted in the number of transactions per second that they can submit during this time to ensure each registrar competing has an equal chance of acquiring the name.