.nz names will be available on the 30th of September
The .nz Domain Name Commission Ltd has announced:
The Domain Name Commission Limited (DNCL) is pleased to announce that from 1pm, 30 September 2014 a significantly amended .nz policy will come into effect – ushering in a new era of choice in .nz domain names.
From that date, people will be able to register shorter, simpler, more representative names immediately before the .nz – as well as the more familiar-looking options like ‘.co.nz’ and ‘.org.nz’.
All existing options like .co.nz, .org.nz and .govt.nz will continue to work as they always have and people will still be able to get names with them. The change simply means that from 1pm, 30 September 2014 people will be able to get names with them, without them, or both.
A lot of people will have questions about what names can they get, based on their existing registrations. There is a new website to tell you the status of a name:
A website at anyname.nz has been created by the Domain Name Commission for holders of .nz domain names to check out their options and learn more about what the change might mean for them. Anyname.nz also shows what the shorter .nz domain names will look like in a web browser from 1pm, 30 September 2014.
Monahan describes the policy change allowing registrations directly at the second level as a boon for choice – one that opens up an exciting new .nz registration possibility. She encourages all those with an existing .nz domain name to visit anyname.nz or contact their Registrar to check their options and learn more about what’s happening.
The site is very easy to use. I’ve just checked and found (had not checked up until now) that:
- I have preferential registration status for curia.nz
- I have preferential registration status for kiwiblog.nz
- That some one else (in fact two people) has preferential registration status for farrar.nz
- That dpf.nz will be available on a first in first served basis on 30 September
“The change keeps all the advantages of the current system while expanding choice. Other countries have already made a similar change and now New Zealand is too.”
Holders of .nz domain names wanting to find out more about this exciting, watershed change to the .nz domain name space should contact their Registrar or domain name provider or visit anyname.nz.
Note that I am the current Board Chair of DNCL. The decision to allow registrations at the second level was made last year by InternetNZ on a recommendation from the DNCL Board.