Domain Name Registration FAQ


Who can register a Domain?

Anyone over the age of 18, or a registered company can register a Domain.

^ back to top

What types of Domain can I register?

You can register up to 13 different extensions through Openhost Limited. These include .nz .com .net .org .biz .info and .tv

^ back to top

What characters can a Domain contain?

Domains may only contain a-z, 0-9, and - (hyphen). Domains can be up to 63 characters long, excluding the extensions. Domain names are not case-sensitive.

^ back to top

Can I register multiple names at once?

Yes, you can register multiple Domains and multiple suffixes at once.

^ back to top

How long will my registration take?

Registration is instantaneous. As soon as the registration is accepted the Domain will be live.

^ back to top

What does it cost to register?

Domain registration incurs a yearly registration fee. Pricing and the minimum number of years you can register vary. For a full list of prices please see our pricing page.

^ back to top

Can I register for multiple years?

Yes, you can register your Domains for up to 10 years each.

^ back to top

How can I pay for my Domain name?

When registering a Domain you must pay by credit card. Following renewal payments can be made by cheque, credit card, or direct credit.

^ back to top

Will I receive a tax invoice?

Yes, upon registering or renewing a Domain an invoice will be generated which will appear in the Invoices section of your Domain management console. Invoices are not posted. You will need to print out each invoice.

^ back to top

What if I make a spelling mistake when registering a Domain?

If you make a mistake with a .nz name you can contact us within 5 days to cancel the name at no charge. All other extensions such as .com will be subject to standard charging. Be careful!

^ back to top

How do I transfer a Domain to Openhost Limited?

To transfer a .nz name you will need your UDAI, which you can obtain from your current host. A UDAI is your access code to manage your Domain. You can then follow our standard domain ordering process which will ask you for the Domain and UDAI to transfer.

For all other names you will need to login to the current register where you MUST "unlock" the domain prior to requesting a domain transfer. You should then follow our standard domain ordering process where we will ask you for the domain to transfer. After your order is processed, you will receive email notification from the current host asking you to authorise or decline the transfer.

^ back to top

How do I transfer a Domain to another host?

For .nz names you will need to contact our helpdesk and request a UDAI (you-dye) code, this can then be used to transfer your domain to any .nz registrar. For all other names ask the new host what their procedure is to transfer the name to them.

^ back to top

What is a UDAI?

A UDAI (you-dye) is an acronym for Unique Domain Authorisation ID and is your access code for managing your .nz Domain.

^ back to top

How do I cancel a Domain name?

You can either let the Domain name expire, or contact us to cancel the Domain.

^ back to top

How do I change the ownership of a Domain?

For .nz names you will need to fax us a request to change ownership. Please download and complete this PDF Change of Ownership form.

For gTLDs you can simply change the contact name associated with the Domain name in your Domain management console.

^ back to top

How will I know my Domain is due for renewal?

The billing contact will receive email notification and written notification from Openhost Limited 60 days prior to your Domain name becoming due for renewal. Email notifications are then sent 30 days, and 15 days before expiration. If the Domain is still not renewed an email will be sent to all the contacts associated with the Domain 2 days before expiration. This is a legal requirement.

^ back to top

What happens if I don't renew my name?

For .nz Domains your Domain will be placed on hold for 90 days. During this time you will not be able to use the Domain, but you will be able to renew it. Once the 90 day period is over the name will be made available again for public registration.

^ back to top

Can I host a Domain with Openhost Limited but point it to another server?

Yes, our advanced DNS management allows you to point your Domain to another host's nameservers.

^ back to top

Domain registration

Why Open Host?

  • 14 Day full money-back guarantee.
  • Staff and hardware are New Zealand-based.
  • Over 10,000 web site hosting customers
  • 99.9% Uptime Guaranteed

DNC OpenHost is a DNC authorized domain registrar.


Customer Feedback

"..I highly recommend these guys for hosting wordpress and dotnetnuke solutions (single portal installs) they are always applying the latest security patches to their servers and the plesk control panel is very easy to work with.."

flaxdigital.com
starstarstarstarstar