Registering and managing .nz domains
Registering and managing .nz domains
.nz domains (.co.nz, .nz, .net.nz, .org.nz, and others) have a few rules and behaviours that differ from international TLDs.
Registrant requirements
The .nz registry (Domain Name Commission New Zealand) requires:
- Accurate and complete registrant contact details, name, address, email, and phone must be real and kept up to date
- Contact details must be for the actual domain owner, not just the hosting provider or technical contact
- You accept the DNCL (Domain Name Commission Limited) terms at registration
Kapsule collects this information during registration and passes it to the registry. Keep your details accurate, the registry can cancel a domain for false registrant information.
WHOIS privacy
WHOIS privacy hides your contact details from public WHOIS lookups. It is available for .nz domains and is free.
Toggle it from your domain's Security tab: "Your contact details are hidden from public WHOIS lookups. Free."
Transfer timelines
.nz domain transfers are fast:
- Incoming transfers to Kapsule, same day (typically within a few hours)
- Outgoing transfers from Kapsule, same day
This is much faster than most international TLDs, which take 5–7 days. The domain remains functional throughout the transfer.
.co.nz vs .nz
Both .co.nz and .nz are available for registration. Key differences:
| .co.nz | .nz | |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional NZ domain | Yes | Shorter, newer |
| Availability | Wider existing ownership | Fewer taken names |
| Registry | DNCL | DNCL |
| Rules | Same | Same |
If yourbrand.co.nz is available, also consider registering yourbrand.nz to protect your brand across both.
Auto-renew
.nz domains auto-renew annually by default. The Kapsule renewal price is locked at your signup price. Toggle auto-renew from the Settings tab of your domain.
Losing a .nz domain is fast. Unlike .com which has a 30-day grace period, .nz domains can be re-registered by others quickly after expiry. Keep auto-renew on.