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DNS Administration in New Zealand
New Zealand Domain Name StructureNovember 1, 1998 (Last update May 8, 2002)PurposeThe Internet Society of New Zealand Inc. (InternetNZ) is responsible for the management of New Zealand (.nz) domain name space. The policy framework for management of that space has been set out in this document by InternetNZ. Service delivery is a process managed by its subsidiary, Domainz. The Terms of Service offered, fee structure and rules dealing with non-payment of fees have also been documented and can be found at www.domainz.net.nz . All related documentation should be read in conjunction with this InternetNZ domain name structure document.
IntroductionThe Internet Society of New Zealand Inc. was delegated responsibility to manage the .nz domain name space during 1996. This delegation forms part of a "cascade" of roles and responsibilities involving a number of organisations: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority - IANA
The New Zealand Internet Registry Ltd - Domainz
InternetNZ reserves the right to revise the DNS structure from time to time. Revisions to the structure will be published on the InternetNZ site and take effect from a specified date which will be a minimum of one month following the date of publication. Finally it needs to be understood that holding a name brings with it certain responsibilities. These are laid out on the Domainz site in the Reference Library, and the Registration Process document is a good starting point. Name Holders are advised that domain names may be subject to reduced services, suspension or cancellation where the published rules are broken. Policy feedbackInternetNZ welcomes feedback in relation to its published DNS policy framework, as well as submissions for possible future change and wider issues such as membership of the Society. All comments and enquiries should be sent to InternetNZ by e-mail or phone as follows:
Role of DomainzThe New Zealand Internet Registry Ltd trades under the name of Domainz . It is a company established by InternetNZ to provide robust DNS infrastructure and deliver quality, cost effective, registration services for the .nz Register in line with policy. The Council requires that development of the .nz domain name system is properly funded, hence name registration is a commercial operation - customers are charged for all Domainz services. Domainz is owned by InternetNZ and is a customer service focused company. The Council maintains oversight to ensure that Domainz provides adequate returns to deliver the service quality and robust infrastructure required. Finally, name registration is a process, and Domainz plays a key role in translating policy into name registration services for the benefit of Name Holders and their associated agents. Name Holders and Registrars/Agents should familiarise themselves with these processes at:
Structure of a .nz domain nameThe structure of a domain name within the New Zealand name space has three elements. Each complete name must be unique and comprises all three elements, each separated by a period (.) i.e. name.domain.nz
Any new name must conform to the relevant Internet standards (in particular RFC's 1034 and 2181 ) as well as specific InternetNZ policy requirements - otherwise such applications may be automatically declined:
Prospective domain Name Holders are responsible for ensuring that at least two name servers are configured and operable prior to submitting their application. Registration cannot proceed until this pre-condition is met, such applications are automatically rejected. Listed Name Holders are also responsible for ensuring that at least two name servers remain configured and operable . Listed domains that are found to have less than two operable name servers are termed "lame delegations" and will be automatically de-activated. Once a name has been listed the Name Holder may specify further sub-domains that can appear to the left of the listed name. These sub-domains are outside the scope of InternetNZ policy and are the responsibility of the name holder - the third level domain manager. Examples
The registration of a third level domain name in the .nz Register is a listing service, delivered in accordance with published policies. All published policies and Terms of Service can be found using the InternetNZ and Domainz web sites Identifiable individuals over 18 years or properly constituted organisations are allowed to list third level domain names in the .nz Register . These names must be unique within the appropriate selected second level domain. Before applying, prospective Name Holders and their agents are advised that registration involves the collection of personal information to provide public name listing services. Information collected will be published on the Domainz web site, and accessible by all users of the Internet. Applicants may be asked to provide proof of their identity, or details of their existence as a properly constituted organisation, and evidence of their ability to meet the conditions for holding a domain name. Upon application for registration of a new name, Name Holders agree to be bound by all published policies and terms of service. Where the Name Holder makes use of a Registrar/Agent, the Registrar/Agent agrees that it has made its client aware of all policies - and - that the client agrees to be bound by those policies. The listing of names within any domain in the .nz domain space is carried out on a " first come, first served " basis. If there is conflict between an applicant for a new listing and the holder of an existing name, it is for those parties to resolve the conflict. Any resulting change in registration details of the existing name must be mutually agreed between the parties. Neither InternetNZ nor Domainz has any role in deciding whether an applicant has a legitimate right to the name. The applicant, in lodging the request for the name, warrants that it is entitled to register the name as requested. Applicants who misrepresent their entitlement to register or use a name are warned that this may result in action from others who claim rights to the name. If InternetNZ, Domainz, or any of their agents, officers or employees incur costs through involvement in disputes over names, any applicant for, or holder of, a name which is subject to a dispute will be liable for those costs. When Domainz agrees to list and delegate a third level domain name, it does not grant a property right as such. Holding a domain name is more akin to a "licence" to connect to the Internet using the unique delegated name. By applying for registration, a Name Holder/Applicant agrees to the published policies of InternetNZ and Domainz including the Terms of Service . A listing may be cancelled at any stage where the Name Holder does not comply with these requirements or fails to meet any fees or other liabilities in connection with the registration or use of the domain name. The arrangements between each Name Holder and Domainz will be governed by New Zealand law. Names are delegated to specific Name Holders and delegation confers no rights on the Name Holder. It does not mean that the Name Holder has any rights to be associated with that name, nor to use or publish the name for any purpose. Neither InternetNZ nor Domainz trades in, or licenses any entity to trade in, domain names. Delegation is to a "third level domain manager", who is deemed to be the one person "authoritative" for making changes to the name. A Name Holder ID and password is supplied on listing to enable Domainz to authenticate all change requests. The Name Holder is responsible for the safe keeping of this password. Neither InternetNZ nor Domainz accept any responsibility for the misuse of the password. The Name Holder is also responsible for ensuring that contact information is kept up to date so that communications with Domainz can be maintained and fees paid. Failure to keep the domain name details current could conceivably lead to reduced services, suspension of the listing or cancellation of the name. Applicants may use the services of an Registrar/Agent to assist in name registration. If an Registrar/Agent submits an application then it should disclose that it is acting as a Registrar/Agent and provide details of the Name Holder (the principal). If the Registrar/Agent does not ensure that the applicant accepts its obligations, then the Registrar/Agent may itself be liable. Both Registrars/Agents and principals should be aware that they have responsibilities to each other in their agency relationship. The relationship may also be subject to New Zealand law and the laws of contract, and the Registrar/Agent may be subject to its own code of practice. Domainz will accept a request for change to the name holder of a listed name only when signed original written instructions are provided. Domainz may require evidence of the authority of any representative of a domain Name Holder and the instructions must:
Registration applications are performed using the processes established by Domainz , who provide appropriate customer friendly interfaces. The Registration Services provided are defined, and should enable Name Holders, potential Name Holders and their Registrars/Agents to,
InternetNZ requires that the DNS structure is professionally managed, hence the DNS registration services operate as a business. Fees are set by Domainz for all registration services and are detailed in the Domainz fee structure document. Second level domainsInternetNZ has established a set of guiding principles describing second level domain names. Central to these principles, is the notion of " communities of interest ":
InternetNZ may grant permission for moderation of membership of a community of interest to be managed by that community of interest, in some circumstances. The following policies apply to second level domains within the total .nz domain space managed by InternetNZ and cover:
Permissible second level domainsThere are currently 10 second level domains. The description of the communities of interest that each represents is as follows,
InternetNZ has granted permission to four organisations to moderate membership of specific second level domains. These are .cri , .govt , .iwi and .mil . Moderation means that applicants need to meet specific additional criteria in order to be included in each community of interest. Those that do not meet these criteria will be excluded. Additional rules for these domains are being drawn up by the selected second level moderators in consultation with InternetNZ. The ensuing rules will be incorporated within this DNS structure document to provide a complete framework for listing names in the .nz Register . Selection of an appropriate second level domainChoosing the most appropriate second level domain is an important part of the name registration process. Prospective name holders sometimes overlook its importance. Prospective Name Holders are strongly encouraged to select the second level domain that matches the most appropriate community of interest. Applicants choosing second level domains that might be viewed as inappropriate by the general Internet community, do so at their own risk:
Prospective Name Holders should talk with their Registrar/Agent prior to application, to establish an appropriate second level domain. Domainz will be pleased to handle enquiries on any aspect of choice of the appropriate second level. In some cases, it may initiate contact with an applicant to clarify their requirements. Moderation of existing second level domainsGenerally, InternetNZ retains management authority of all listed second level domains. Under specific circumstances, authority to moderate membership may be granted to another organisation. Existing moderated domains are .cri, .govt, .iwi, .mil For InternetNZ to consider granting authority for an existing second level domain, the following principles are important. The community of interest proposing to accept responsibility for moderation must:
Granting this authority is a formal process involving agreement between two parties, InternetNZ and the community of interest. InternetNZ will periodically review the agreement and retains the right to revoke it where issues arise in relation to the above criteria. Creation of new second level domainsIt will be necessary for the second level domain name space to evolve over time to reflect the changing needs of society. InternetNZ has established a procedure for the creation of new second level domains that includes extensive consultation with the wider community. Firstly, InternetNZ has established a set of guiding principles describing second level domain names. All proposals should reflect the theme central to these principles, that being the notion of "communities of interest" Secondly, proposals for new second level domains will be expected to:
And thirdly, the proposals need to meet the needs of the process for consideration of new second level domains which is published separately. Use of information collectedThe management of the DNS involves the collection of personal information to provide public name listing services. This is in line with other Internet domain name registration services world-wide. Information is collected in one of two ways:
All information collected will be considered as information within the public domain. It may be published on the Domainz web site, and will be accessible to all users of the Internet. All information collected will be held in the Domainz registration database, the content, form and interfaces of which are copyright and property of Domainz. Name Holders are provided with a Name Holder ID and password which provides access to their data. They are responsible for keeping their information up to date. Domainz does not accept receipt of any information under any imposed conditions of confidentiality or non-disclosure, whether express or implied, by the Name Holder or their Registrar/Agent. Domainz does not (except with specific written consent which may include conditions), authorise any party to copy, adapt, translate or use its databases for commercial purposes. InternetNZ reservation of namesInternetNZ retains the right to reserve names for its own future use. Names so reserved will be publicly listed by InternetNZ. Reserved names may be allocated from time to time by InternetNZ for such purposes and with such restrictions as it may decide. InternetNZ has no names on reserve (May 1, 2001). Delegation in .nz prior to July 1996Prior to July 1996, name registration in New Zealand took one of three forms:
While offering several types of registration was appropriate when the Internet was in its early days, only Full (NS type) registrations are now available. There are a number of reasons for the introduction of this approach:
This is how all registrations are handled at the US InterNIC and many other overseas registries. Guidelines explaining how to achieve this were published, and an extensive program was run from January to July 1997 to fully register all domains listed in the .nz Register . Historical Policies
© 1998 The Internet Society of New Zealand Document Actions |
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