Domain Names

Introduction

Domain names give Internet users a unique identifier for their email, web sites and servers, and are often used by schools, organizations and businesses, but not always. We can offer these to our customers at very competitive rates. Domain names consist of a name (eg:smith) with an extension such as .co, usually followed by a country code such as .nz for New Zealand. This results in smith.co.nz. The name can be anything unique, and for New Zealand the extension must be one from the following table and can be registered through us. We can also register global domain names such as .com, .org or .net

New Zealand domain names are managed by Internet NZ under the oversight of a Domain Name Comissioner. Names and registrant information is entered on to a registry by authorised registrars such as Watchdog. The person or organization who requests the domain name is known as the registrant. The registry was previously managed by Domainz. However New Zealand is now running what is called a Shared Registry System where registrars have direct access to the registry and Domainz is now one of a number of registrars. For more information on this go to the Domain Name Commissioner web site.

Charges

There is a charge for registration of a new domain name as well as for transferring an existing domain name over to us as your provider. Once a domain name is registered or transferred to us it is then hosted or parked on our name servers. There is an on-going charge for this service. If a domain name is parked then it cannot be used for email or a web site it is effectively on hold for you. To enable it to be used for those purposes, it needs to be hosted. Note there are no longer any annual fees for .nz domains. Many of our Campus and Corporate Watchdog Internet packages include domain hosting so if you are on one of these plans then we allow one domain name to be set up or transferred and hosted at no charge.

Please email sales@watchdog.net.nz for prices or call us on 0508 WATCHDOG (928 243)

To register a name please do the following:

1. Choose a domain name. You can email us at info@watchdog.net.nz to check if it is available or for assistance with this.
2. Read and agree to our Domain name Terms and Conditions
3. Email  info@watchdog.net.nz with the following information:

• Watchdog username (if you have one) as fn (your-number)
• Requested domain name (eg: mynewdomain.co.nz)
• Name of registrant (person or company requesting the domain name)
• Company name (if applicable)
• Email address
• Postal address
• Phone number
• Fax number (if applicable)
• Do you want email for this domain name? If so, do you want it to be delivered to your existing watchdog mailbox (list email address) OR to another email address (please list) OR other instructions
• Do you want a web site for this domain. If so, what size (1MB, 20MB, 50MB, or larger). Pricing for web hosting can be given on request – please email info@watchdog.net.nz
• Please note: If you are not an existing Watchdog customer then we will need to open an account for you and may require payment before your request can be processed. Your request will then be processed and once completed you will be provided with a UDAI (Unique Domain Password) that you need to keep safe and is used for you to manage your domain name.

Transferring a domain name

To transfer an existing .nz domain name to Watchdog from another domain registrar please email info@watchdog.net.nz with the following information:

• Domain name
• UDAI for that domain name. This is the unique identifier that your existing domain registrar will provide you with.
• Any changes to your registrant records, eg: address, phone number
• Do you want email for this domain name? If so, do you want it to be delivered to your new watchdog mailbox (list email address) OR to another email address (please list) OR other instructions
• Do you want a web site for this domain name? If so, what size (1MB, 20MB, 50MB, or larger). Pricing for web hosting can be given on request – please email info@watchdog.net.nz
• Confirmation that you have read and agree to our domain name Terms and Conditions

Changing a domain name registrant

If a registrant wishes to change the registrant name associated with a domain name we require the following information in order to action this:

• An email from the existing registrant using the email address currently asociated with the domain name or a letter on letterhead from the company or organisation if the domain name is registered to an organisation or company
• The UDAI for that domain name
• Confirmation from the proposed new registrant that they approve of the transfer and that they agree to Watchdog’s.
• Full details of the proposed new registrant including:

1.  Name
2.  Company Name (if applicable)
3.  Email Address
4.  Postal Address
5.  Phone number
6.  Fax Number

An account will then be opened with Watchdog for the new registrant and the transfer processed. There will be a $19 + GST for this.

Managing your domain name

As you, the registrant, are in charge of your domain name then you control what happens to it. We, as the registrar, act upon your instructions and have no ownership of it. Any changes to your domain name records we do for you. In order for you to move to another registrar you will need the UDAI which is a unique password for each domain name. We provide this for you at the time of registration or transfer and keep a secure record of these so that we can provide it to you upon request.

Questions?

For any questions about domain names please email us at info@watchdog.net.nz or phone 0508 WATCHDOG (928 243).