.nz green light.

foz · Oct 11, 2013

.nz green light according to the announcement today.

http://dnc.org.nz/story/new-level-internet-domain-names-provide-more-choice-online-new-zealanders

Media release - 11 October 2013

The Council of InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) has today approved a policy proposal from subsidiary Domain Name Commission Ltd to allow domain names to be registered at the second level in the .nz domain name space, giving New Zealanders even more choice in getting online.

Yet contradictory on how it will be released.

A final policy implementing the proposal will be subject to public consultation in 2014.

Edwin · Oct 11, 2013

foz said:
.nz green light according to the announcement today.

http://dnc.org.nz/story/new-level-internet-domain-names-provide-more-choice-online-new-zealanders

Yet contradictory on how it will released.

So they'll be consulting again on the final version of the document (which presumably won't change that much from where it is now). Will be interesting to see if the reaction is different, since at that point it will be a "policy document" not a "proposal" i.e. a done deal and thus no longer abstract, but of real significance to all existing *.nz domain holders.

Of course, they don't have the problem we do in that there are only 464,000 .co.nz domains registered, which is less than 5% of the number of .co.uk
http://dnc.org.nz/content/2013-09_stats.html

There's also a much lower % of NZ businesses online (one estimate I saw was 34%) compared to in the UK where more than 70% of companies have a website already. In other words, a "new" namespace benefits the majority of NZ businesses, but a small minority of UK ones (and likely to be the smallest, most hide-bound, least "online-able" ones)
http://techday.com/start-up/news/ar...ssing-out-on-digital-economy-benefits/165006/
http://www.electronic-payments.co.uk/ecommerce-in-the-uk

Finally, while 94% of registered UK namespace domains are .co.uk, the equivalent number falls to 85% of registered NZ namespace domains.
http://db.nominet.org.uk/page/the-uk-in-detail/
http://dnc.org.nz/content/2013-09_stats.html

Thus, it could/should be argued that the two situations are materially different if Nominet try to parlay the "yes" for .nz into some kind of mandate for .uk.

Edwin · Oct 11, 2013

Another thing that is "materially different" is the level of transparency on offer. While Nominet keeps their cards so close to their chest they're practically serving as a skin graft, the NZ policy team make everything open
https://internetnz.net.nz/system/files/meetings/full_set_of_october_council_meeting.pdf

Note that the above document was released well BEFORE the meeting (and subsequent decision).

foz · Oct 11, 2013

Regardless of the size of the Registry its still an upheaval for all the registrants in that space. Looking back over the consultations their was no clear or overwhelming support for it. Very disappointing outcome.

Edwin · Oct 11, 2013

foz said:
Regardless of the size of the Registry its still an upheaval for the all the registrants in the space. Looking back over the consultations their was no clear or overwhelming support for it. Very disappointing outcome.

I agree entirely. I read every one of the submissions to the second .nz consultation carefully (there was some great ammo there for a .uk consultation response) and those in favour basically said "yes yes yes yes yes yes yes submit" while those against went to great pains to detail all the issues.

Another gigantic difference between NZ and UK/Nominet is that the body in charge of making the NZ decision won't directly profit from any increase in registrations (it's all detailed in the document I linked to above) while Nominet as we know stand to rake it in like they just won Euromillions...
http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/630...uk-domains-but-do-businesses-really-need-them

Stephen · Oct 11, 2013

not the same conclusion

foz said:
Regardless of the size of the Registry its still an upheaval for all the registrants in that space. Looking back over the consultations their was no clear or overwhelming support for it. Very disappointing outcome.

Agree, I have not read every response in detail but have read quite a few and parts of the agenda for yesterday with the plus and minuses. I would not have come to the same conclusion, with what I have seen.

I do agree with Edwin's comment about the 'yes' just have to say 'yes' whilst the no and those want changes go to great length to explain why, to support their viewpoint. There will always be people who believe they will get shop.nz for $10 and yes, a new domain is very exciting to those people, it those that already have domains that will suffer when a better country tld is made available.

The .nz proposition is not the same as the .uk and I think they will change it further, to adjust for the many negative consequences identified in the feedback, whilst keeping the fundamental driver that it gets .nz released for the final consultation.

It will be interesting to see in the detail of the consultation, if there is any scenario of the feedback or mechanism of the last consultation that it could be halted?

websaway · Oct 11, 2013

I think if nominet had proposed the change in the UK when only 464,000 co.uk names had been registered it would have been a formality.

Stephen · Oct 11, 2013

current v new registrants

foz said:
Regardless of the size of the Registry its still an upheaval for all the registrants in that space. Looking back over the consultations their was no clear or overwhelming support for it. Very disappointing outcome.

Agree about the effect on existing registrants being at a disadvantage.

I have asked Nominet to provide a statistic on new UK registrations in the last 12 months, of how many were by existing registrants and how many where new first time registrants to the namespace.

I believe this would provide another piece of information on who exactly is creating the new domains, existing registrants or new entrants?

foz · Oct 11, 2013

The "Yes Yes" crowd during the .nz consultation was reminiscent of late comers to the space with their ".co" registrations, likely just hitting puberty, and wanting to party like it was 2014. Nil investment in the space I bet.