When you register a domain name, your contact details are recorded in a public directory called WHOIS. Domain privacy hides some of those details from public view, so you get less spam and fewer unwanted calls.
How it works depends on the type of domain you have.
.nz domains (.nz, .co.nz, .org.nz and so on): the Individual Registrant Privacy Option (IRPO)
For .nz domains, privacy is provided through the Individual Registrant Privacy Option (IRPO), which is set by the .nz rules rather than by us.
Who can use it
- The domain must be registered to an individual person, not a company, organisation or trust.
- It's intended for people who are not using the domain for significant trade. If you run a business from the domain, the .nz rules expect your contact details to stay visible so customers know who they're dealing with.
What it hides
With IRPO turned on, your address, phone number and email address are withheld from public WHOIS lookups. Anyone who needs to reach you can still do so through a message form on the .nz Domain Name Commission's website, without seeing your details.
What it costs
There's no extra charge from us to turn on IRPO for an eligible .nz domain.
How to turn it on
- First, check your contact details are correct, because once privacy is on they won't be publicly visible for you to check. Open the domain under Domains → My Domains (https://www.hooplahosting.co.nz/client/clientarea.php?action=domains), click the domain, and choose Contact Information in the Manage menu. The registrant must be your own name, with no company name.
- Open a ticket from Support → Open Ticket (https://www.hooplahosting.co.nz/client/submitticket.php) while logged in to your account. Include the domain name and confirm that it's registered to you as an individual and isn't used for significant trade.
- We'll turn on IRPO and let you know once it's done.
If your circumstances change, for example you start trading from the domain or transfer it to a company, let us know so we can turn IRPO off.
You can read more about IRPO on the Domain Name Commission's website: dnc.org.nz/irpo. The full rules are in our .NZ Registrant Agreement.
Other domains (.com, .net, .au and others)
For most other domain types, registries and registrars now hide personal contact details from public WHOIS by default under international privacy rules, so in many cases there's nothing you need to do. Rules vary by domain type, though. If you'd like to check what's showing for your domain, or whether a privacy option is available for it, open a ticket and we'll take a look.
Keep your details up to date
Even with privacy turned on, your contact details must be accurate. Out-of-date details can stop you receiving renewal and transfer notices, and can put your domain at risk of being suspended. You can update them any time under Contact Information on the domain's page. See also How can I check my domain WHOIS information is correct?
