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.nz Domain: New Zealand ccTLD Guide

Updated October 2026

.nz is the country-code top-level domain for New Zealand.

Overview

New Zealand businesses, organisations and individuals use it for local sites, usually under .co.nz, and it is open to overseas registrants too.

The .nz domain was introduced on 19 January 1987. The University of Waikato was the first formally recognised administrator, until InternetNZ took over after its formation in 1995. The Domain Name Commission Limited, an InternetNZ subsidiary since 1 April 2008, handles oversight and dispute resolution.

Names can be registered at the second level, for example example.nz, or beneath labels such as .co.nz (commercial), .org.nz (not-for-profit), .net.nz (network providers), .ac.nz, .govt.nz, .school.nz and .maori.nz. Most are unrestricted, while a few are moderated and checked before registration. Direct second-level registration opened to everyone on 30 September 2014.

Names are 2 to 63 characters, using lowercase letters, digits and hyphens. Macron vowels (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) were introduced in 2010. The registry moved to a platform supplied by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority on 1 November 2022. DNSSEC is supported.

Only individuals can use domain privacy. If the organisation field is left blank the registrant is treated as an individual; if it is filled in, the registrant is treated as an organisation and contact details appear in WHOIS. The Rules and the Dispute Resolution Policy are the governing documents. There were 780,676 domains in July 2026.

Who can register

Registrants do not need to be based in New Zealand. They must be identifiable individuals over 18 or properly constituted organisations, and must accept the registrar's terms and conditions.

Second-level endings: Also .co.nz, .net.nz, .org.nz and others.

Before you buy a .nz name

• Check the renewal price as well as the first-year price. Our cost calculator shows what a name really costs over time.
• Make sure you meet the eligibility rules yourself, without relying on a trustee if you can avoid it.
• Search for trademarks and for the same name in .com.
• Say the name out loud: will people type it correctly?

Weighing up a specific .nz name? TLD.is gives an AI appraisal that explains a name's strengths and weaknesses.

Frequently asked questions

What country is .nz?

.nz is the country-code top-level domain for New Zealand.

Who runs the .nz domain?

The .nz registry is managed by InternetNZ (oversight by the Domain Name Commission).

Can I register a .nz domain from another country?

Registrants do not need to be based in New Zealand. They must be identifiable individuals over 18 or properly constituted organisations, and must accept the registrar's terms and conditions.

Does Google treat .nz as a country domain?

Yes. Google normally treats .nz as a signal that a site targets New Zealand.

Compare and explore

Compare .nz side by side with other extensions, or browse more in Oceania:

Sources checked: en.wikipedia.org · support.opensrs.com. Last reviewed October 2026.

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