Compliance approach
The Domain Name Commission ensures that .nz domain name participants can be confident about the accountability and performance of the .nz domain namespace. We achieve this through our annual programme of compliance work.
Our annual compliance plan shows our work for the coming year
Each May, we produce an annual compliance plan. The plan sets out our work programme for the coming year and the resources we need to do the work.
By publishing our plan:
- market participants can see our short-to-medium-term goals and priorities
- we get early opportunities to engage with our stakeholders
- registrars can prepare for scheduled compliance work well in advance.
For our compliance work, we rely on tools and resources including auditing registrar portfolios, spot-checking data, scanning websites, and responding to requests for information.
Our compliance work may result in registrars needing to act if non-compliance is found with .nz policy. Non-compliance may result in sanctions or publishing information for registrants on our website.
Also, we currently have a year-round programme to focus on domain name abuse.
Our goal is to ensure .nz is a safe, trusted, and secure place
We aim to keep .nz fair for everyone and make it a safe, trusted, and secure place for individuals and their online presence. We achieve this goal by ensuring domain name holders comply with .nz policy.
Our approach is to prioritise activities that raise awareness of .nz policy. We want to ensure everyone can have confidence in the .nz domain namespace. We also strive to continuously improve and develop the high standards that currently exist.
We use different approaches to ensure compliance with .nz policies, including awareness, education, and sanctions.
Around the .nz domain namespace and related services, we provide governance for:
- market fairness
- compliance
- authorising and deauthorising .nz registrars
- managing enquiries and complaints
- administering the Dispute Resolution Service.
View a summary of our work plan
This section summarises our 2021 Annual Compliance Plan.
Quarter 1: Registrant core terms and conditions
Our theme for quarter 1 is the point of sale advice that Registrants receive. We will be ensuring that registrant core terms and conditions are provided and are educated on the role of the Commission.
We will also be ensuring that general terms and conditions with .nz Authorised Registrars are consistent with .nz policy.
Quarter 2: Privacy in the .nz domain namespace.
We will be ensuring that all .nz Authorized Registrars are able to offer the .nz privacy option and are also applying this correctly. In particular, we are looking for masked registration information.
We will also be looking at price ranges for offered privacy options.
Quarter 3: Data quality checks to assist the registry replacement project
We will be doing spot checks to ensure that registration information is as up-to-date as possible.
We will focus on registrations that have existed in the .nz space for a number of years to ensure that the information provided is accurate and complete.
We will also examine the accuracy of corporate registrations.
Quarter 4: Resellers
We will do an environmental scan of the .nz reseller market to identify compliance issues.
This will include whether resellers have adequate agreements in place that align with .nz policy.
12-month focus
Domain name abuse
This year we will refine our abuse data sources to evaluate potential domain name harm affecting consumers. This will lead to us strengthening our notification and mitigation efforts.
Education
This year we are implementing an e-learning solution providing resources to registrars and registrants that focuses on best practices in the .nz space.
Investigations
As well as resolving individual issues that are referred to the Domain Name Commission, we also look at issues that may be affecting several registrants or registrars.
This could also be an industry-wide issue, that may need resolving.
Investigations are concerns about a particular process, system or practice that is occurring in the .nz domain names that affect a significant number of parties involved in the space.
We welcome your compliance suggestions
We welcome suggestions from registrants and members of the public about future topics for our compliance programme. Suggestions need to relate to .nz-authorised registrars or .nz registrant activities.
As well as welcoming suggestions, we try to identify trends in what we learn when people contact us, from reviewing our actions, and from news that our international counterparts share.
View our last year's work plan summary
This section summarises our 2020 Annual Compliance Plan.
Quarter 1: Privacy in the .nz domain namespace
Ensure that all .nz registrars can offer the .nz privacy option and apply it correctly.
Look at other non-compliant privacy options, such as other WHOIS privacy options, or obfuscated registration information.
Quarter 2: Data legacy in the .nz domain namespace
Do spot checks to ensure that registration information is as up to date as possible.
Review registrations that have existed in the .nz space for multiple years to ensure the information provided is accurate and complete.
Do information-matching for different publicly and commercially available data sets to improve individual and corporate contact information.
Quarter 3: Resellers and .nz policy compliance
Do a mapping exercise of the .nz resellers to ensure that .nz registrants are being bound by .nz policy when they register.
Ensure authorised registrars and resellers having adequate agreements in place that align with .nz policy.
Quarter 4: Registrant core terms and conditions
Ensure we provide registrants with core terms and conditions during transaction processes.
Ensure that any general terms and conditions with .nz-authorised registrars are consistent with .nz policy.