Overseas Domain Holders Now Major Players In NZ

MEDIACOM-RELEASE-DOMAINZ

OVERSEAS DOMAIN NAME HOLDERS NOW MAJOR PLAYERS IN NZ

The past year has seen a major upsurge in overseas interest in the Internet in New Zealand.

Domainz, the company which manages New Zealand's National domain name registry, says that 10-percent of the domain names now registered in the .nz space are now from overseas name holders.

Chief executive Patrick O'Brien says this has important implications for decision making about the future of how Domain name registration is managed in this country.

He says a recent report by a working party set up by Domainz 100- percent owner, the Internet Society of New Zealand, which recommended Domainz role change from that of registry manager to a registrar, focused on the local situation.

He says the marketplace for domain names is beyond and bigger than New Zealand and the importance of the significant overseas stakeholders should be addressed in any change taking place. The working party review, headed by Victoria University computer science professor John Hine, should take an international consultative approach to ensure these overseas interests are considered.

Mr O'Brien says the growth in offshore registrations is a major trend, as international companies move to protect their brands in the marketplace, by registering names in more than one country.

"Offshore Registrars are also entering the New Zealand marketplace, with one offshore registrar now New Zealand's fifth largest .nz name provider."

Under its new system for registering domain names Domainz has introduced the concept of `Accredited Registrars' who acting as Agents for the name holder, have authorised access to the .nz Register using a Registrar ID and password.

Mr O'Brien says individual name holders also have improved access to services.

He says that, inline with current ISOCNZ open access policy, using a name holder ID and password, they can update information about their domain name directly via the Domainz web site. ENDS MEDIA RELEASE FROM DOMAINZ

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