Projects and initiatives domain names
Most requests for new .govt.nz domain names are for new projects or initiatives in government. These are referred to as 'generic' names.
If you are developing a new project or initiative, please talk with us as early as possible.
We will talk with you about:
- whether your request meets the eligibility criteria for a .govt.nz or .parliament.nz 3rd level domain
- the suitability of potential names, with a focus on balancing your needs and the needs of your users.
Your organisation will only be eligible for a new generic or other 3rd level .govt.nz name if the project or initiative:
- involves more than 1 agency, and
- is of national significance, and is not limited to a particular area or region.
If you do not meet these criteria, you should use a 4th level domain for your site.
Choosing a name
If you think your project or initiative qualifies for a generic domain name, you need to choose a name that is:
- specific — the name must be specific enough to avoid confusion with other existing or future services across government, and
- descriptive — the domain name needs to describe the purpose of the site or the government service being provided so the public can have a reasonable expectation that the name represents all available information online about this service or function.
For example, the site located at employment.govt.nz provides information and links to all government agencies working in the employment area.
Other examples of good generic domain names include:
- healthyfamilies.govt.nz
- hazardoussubstances.govt.nz
- workingforfamilies.govt.nz (not wff.govt.nz).
Moderation policy
The moderation policy further explains the moderation and registration process for domain names.
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