Register a domain name in the redemption period?

If you want to reinstate your own domain name that is in the redemption period please see this guide here.

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.

With the launch of the new .nz registry system last year some of the terminology used has changed. ‘Pending release’ is now called the ‘redemption period’.

What is the redemption period?

Domain names are registered for a specific length of time (anywhere from 1 year to 10 years), when the registration of a domain name expires it goes into the redemption period.

The redemption period lasts for 90 days. During the redemption period, any services associated with the domain name (like email or website hosting) will stop working. The current registrant (domain name holder) can reinstate the domain name anytime while it is in the redemption period.

This period lasts 90 days from the date the domain name is cancelled; whether it is cancelled by the registrar (domain name provider) as it has expired or if the registrant cancels the registration.

What happens after the redemption period ends?

Once the 90-day redemption period has expired the domain enters a ‘pending delete’ status, which is the status before the domain name is released to become available to be registered on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Once a domain name is in ‘pending delete’ it can not be reinstated by the registrant. The period of time it takes for a domain name to go from ‘pending delete’ to ‘available’ varies but is roughly a few working days.

Registering a domain name that is in the redemption period

If you want to register a domain name that is in the redemption period, there are two options available:

Option 1: Contact the current registrant.

Domain names can be transferred to a new registrant while in the redemption period.

If a domain name you want to register is in the redemption period. 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 by using our WHOIS lookup tool here.

If they agree, you will need to contact the current registrar (domain name provider) and ask them to action the transfer of the domain name to you. You can find more information on how to do this here.

Option 2: Approach a .nz authorised registrar

Some domain 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, so 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.

There is no waiting list for domain names that are waiting to be released as they are released on a first-come-first-served basis.

If the domain name you want to reinstate is your own domain, please see this guide here.

Full list of .nz authorised registrars.

What do you mean by domain name bidding service?

Some registrars try to secure the domain name coming out of the redemption period 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.

How can I register a domain that's set to be released soon?

There is no waitlist for domains about to be released - they become available on a first-come-first-served basis. It's advisable to contact multiple registrars before the domain name release to improve your chances of securing it.

How can I reinstate my personal domain name that's in the Redemption Period?

If you're looking to reinstate a domain that belongs to you and is in the Redemption Period, you can follow the steps outlined in this guide here.