Market activity (2022-2023)
The new InternetNZ registry system (IRS) went live on 1 November 2022. The DNC has observed a big improvement for new registrars that are keen to join the .nz space going forward as the new system offers a low barrier to entry, with small-sized registrars being able to manage domain names via the IRS portal and bigger ones being able to work over a standardised version of the EPP protocol.
In March 2023, the top four registrars' percentage ownership of the market rose to 58.19% — a slight increase compared to 57.27% in March 2022. These figures treat each registrar brand separately and do not aggregate where there is common ultimate ownership.
As of 31 March 2023, there were 73 registrars:
- Four registrars joined the market during the year.
- Five authorised registrars exited the market.
We measure market concentration using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). Although increasingly concentrated, the HHI score stands at 997, with scores less than 1,500 indicating a competitive marketplace.
Key market statistics
In 2022-2023, in the .nz domain name space:
- Registrations reached an all-time high of 757,114 .nz domain names (as of 31 March 2023).
- The number of .nz domain names at the second level increased by 17.1%, and the number of all .nz domains increased by 2% compared to the end of the 2021-2022 financial year.*
- 45.16% of the domains created with a 12-month term in 2021-2022 renewed their subscription during the 2022-2023 financial year.
*all .nz domains increase number was added on 25 July 2023.
Advertised primary retail market prices
The retail median pricing for .co.nz, excluding tax, has been relatively stable since 2019, as set out in the graph below:
Image description
The graph shows the median registrar price for .nz and .co.nz domains, excluding tax, for one-year domain name registrations. The graph shows price changes from December 2019 - December 2022.
According to the graph, the median price of the .co.nz domain name has decreased over time: from $37.2 in 2019 to $34.8 in 2022. The .nz domain name median price has increased slightly: from $34.4 in 2019 to $35 in 2022. The graph shows that both domains' prices stayed at $35 from December 2021.
Numerical values presented on the chart
| TLD | December 2019 | June 2020 | December 2020 | June 2021 | December 2021 | June 2022 | December 2022 |
| .co.nz, median final price, NZD, ex tax | 37.161 | 35.95 | 35.95 | 38.95 | 35 | 35 | 34.783 |
| .nz, median final price, NZD, ex tax | 34.375 | 32 | 35 | 35.856 | 35 | 35.12 | 35 |
Key indicators of market health
The DNC monitors a number of measures related to the overall health of a well-functioning market.
|
New registrar entrants |
New entrants entering the market |
Goal: 5 new entrants per year |
In 2022/2023, there were four new entrants to the market. |
|
Registrar exit awareness |
Tracking registrars leaving the market. |
Goal: Have data on exit behaviour. |
Achieved. There were five exits in 2022-2023. |
|
Average retail price of a .nz domain |
Publish prices on our website over time |
Goal: Collect retail price twice a year. |
In 2022-2023 the Commission has collected monthly retail pricing data and published it on our website. |
|
Market concentration |
HHI index |
Goal: Monitor concentration levels in the market. |
The HHI rose to 997 (March 2023). It had been 956 (March 2022) and 803 (March 2021). |
|
Mergers |
Enforcement of change in control contractual terms |
Due diligence performed on any mergers |
There is one change of control approved as of 31 March 2023. |
|
Renewals |
Reporting |
Capture domain name renewal rates. |
45.16% of the domains created with a 12-month term in 2021-2022 renewed their subscription during the 2022-2023 financial year. |