If a web company registers your .nz domain in their own name instead of yours, treat it as a serious red flag — it means they, not you, control your website address, your email and years of online reputation.
Why some providers do it
Sometimes it’s laziness or “keeping it simple”. Sometimes it’s deliberate — a way to lock you in so you can’t easily leave. Either way, the result is the same: your most important digital asset is held by someone else, and you’re dependent on their goodwill to use your own name.
How it bites you
- You decide to switch providers and discover you can’t take your domain with you.
- A surprise “release” or “transfer” fee appears when you try to leave.
- The provider goes quiet, changes hands, or stops trading — and your domain goes with them.
- Your business email (tied to the domain) is suddenly at risk too.
What you’re entitled to
Your domain should be registered to your business as the legal registrant, with your contact details, and you should be able to access the account it lives in. A provider managing it for you is fine; a provider owning it is not. You should be free to move any time, taking your name with you.
How to protect yourself
Ask any provider, in writing, “Will the domain be registered in my business’s name, and will I have access to it?” The right answer is an easy yes. If they hesitate, walk. We register domains in the client’s name as standard and hand over the keys.
Not sure how yours is set up? Send us your domain and we’ll tell you who’s listed as the owner — no obligation.
FAQ
Is it illegal for a web company to own my domain?
Owning a domain they registered isn’t automatically illegal, but using it to withhold your business’s name or extract fees can cross into unfair conduct. The safest position is simple: make sure it’s registered to you from the start.
Can I get my domain back?
Usually yes — you can request the registrant be corrected to your business. If a provider refuses, there are formal dispute channels for .nz domains. We can guide you through it.
How do I avoid this entirely?
Insist the domain is registered in your name and that you hold the registrar login. Get it in writing before any work starts.
