.nz

Introduced	1987
TLD type	Country code top-level domain
Status	Active
Registry	Domain Name Commissioner
Sponsor	Internet Society of New Zealand
Intended use	Entities connected with  New Zealand
Actual use	Popular in New Zealand
Registration restrictions	No restrictions under most second-level names; a few are "moderated" meaning that eligibility is checked before registration is granted
Structure	Names are registered at third level within generic second-level categories, including one specifically for geeks
Dispute policies	Dispute and Complaint Process
Registry website	DNC

.nz is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for New Zealand. It is administered by InternetNZ via the Domain Name Commissioner. Registrations are processed via authorised registrars. There are over 244,608 registered .nz domains.^[1]. The original registry operator of .nz was Domainz, a subsidiary of InternetNZ.

As is the case with most other English-speaking countries apart from the US, there are numerous sub-level domains that identify whether the user is a company, a non-commercial organisation or government body.

Unlike other English-speaking countries, New Zealand uses 'govt' instead of 'gov' for government bodies, hence 'govt.nz'. There are also sub-level domains unique to New Zealand, such as 'iwi.nz' iwi for traditional Māori tribal groups (as well as 'maori.nz') and 'geek.nz' for 'geeks' .

The following Second level domains are in use with their official descriptions.

• .cri.nz — Crown Research Institutes.
• .govt.nz — National, regional and local government organisations operating with statutory powers. Registration is only available through the government registrar, DNS.govt.nz.
• .iwi.nz — A traditional Māori tribe, hapu, or Taurahere group. Available from register.iwi.nz.
• .parliament.nz - Reserved for parliamentary agencies, Offices of Parliament, and parliamentary political parties and their elected members.
• .mil.nz — Military organisations of the NZ Government.

• .ac.nz — Tertiary educational institutions and related organisations
• .co.nz — Organisations pursuing commercial aims and purposes
• .geek.nz — For people who are concentrative, technically skilled and imaginative who are generally adept with computers
• .gen.nz — Individuals and other organisations not covered elsewhere
• .maori.nz — Māori people, groups, and organisations
• .net.nz — Organisations and service providers directly related to the NZ Internet
• .org.nz — Not-for-profit organisations
• .school.nz — Primary, secondary and pre-schools and related organisations

The Domain archie.nz also existed for an Archie search engine Server operated by the University of Waikato until the mid 1990s.

Since only some of the domains are moderated, it is possible to register outside of the area intended.

• IANA .nz whois information
• .nz Domain Name Commissioner
• List of .nz authorised registrars