Check if the name is free with any .nz registrar or the Domain Name Commission’s WHOIS search, then register it with an authorised .nz registrar. Make sure it’s registered in your business’s name, with an email you check, and set it to renew automatically.
Step 1: choose a few names
- Short and easy to say on the phone.
- Close to your business name, or to what you do and where (smithplumbing, wellingtonphysio).
- No hyphens or numbers if you can avoid them.
- Not someone else’s trade mark. A quick search on the IPONZ website helps.
Step 2: check if it’s available
Search for the name on any .nz registrar’s website: it’ll tell you straight away if it’s free. You can also use the Domain Name Commission’s WHOIS search to see who owns a domain that’s already taken.
Check both endings at once: if yourbusiness.co.nz is taken, yourbusiness.nz may not be.
Step 3: register it with an authorised registrar
.nz domains are sold by registrars authorised by the Domain Name Commission. You’ll find the list on the commission’s website. Many web hosts are registrars too.
| When you register | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Use your business name as the registrant | Whoever is listed owns the domain |
| Use an email you check | Renewal reminders and transfer codes go there |
| Turn on auto-renew | An expired domain can be registered by someone else |
| Consider the privacy option | Individuals can hide their contact details from public WHOIS |
What it costs
InternetNZ charges registrars a wholesale fee of NZ$22 a year for every .nz domain, including .co.nz. Registrars add their margin, so most charge between about NZ$30 and NZ$60 a year. Very cheap first-year offers usually renew at a higher price, so check the renewal cost.
If someone else registered your name
- Try the other ending, or add your town or trade.
- If the domain isn’t in use, you can contact the owner through the WHOIS details and offer to buy it.
- If someone registered your trade mark in bad faith, the Domain Name Commission has a dispute resolution service.
When a web designer registers it for you
That’s fine, as long as the domain is in your business’s name and they’ll transfer it if you leave. Ask before you start.
Every website we build includes your .nz domain for the first year, registered for your business. Read .nz or .co.nz: which should you choose?
Compare our three websites side by side, prices and all.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to register a .nz domain?
A few minutes. It usually works within an hour, although it can take longer for a new domain to work everywhere.
Can I register a domain for more than one year?
Yes, many registrars let you pay for several years at once, which protects you from forgetting to renew.
How do I move my domain to another registrar?
Ask your current registrar for the UDAI (the transfer code for .nz domains) and give it to the new registrar.
