# Who owns your website and domain?

By Web Smart HQ · Published 2026-10-04

**Short answer:** You should hold 4 things in your own name: your domain, your website content, your Google Business Profile and your analytics. Check who holds a .nz domain in 2 minutes with the Domain Name Commission's free lookup at dnc.org.nz. NZ cost guides put a domain at about $20 to $60 a year, ex GST (2026).

## Key takeaways

- Whoever is listed as the registrant holds the domain. Make sure that's you or your business.
- You never buy a domain outright. You register it and renew it.
- Your Google Business Profile and analytics should list you as the owner, not just your designer.
- Get ownership in writing before any work starts.

## Which 4 things should you own?

You should own your domain, your website content, your Google Business Profile and your analytics, all in your own or your business's name. Hosting and design are a little different. You may rent hosting, and a designer or builder may license the theme or code. That's fine, as long as you can take your domain and content and leave.

### What to own, and how to check

| Thing | Who should hold it | How to check |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Domain (e.g. yourname.co.nz) | You or your business, as registrant | Free lookup at dnc.org.nz (2 minutes) |
| Website content (words, photos, logo) | You, by written agreement | Read your contract or quote |
| Google Business Profile | You, as primary owner | Profile settings, then "People and access" |
| Analytics and Search Console | You, as owner or admin | The users or access settings in each tool |

## How do you check who holds your .nz domain?

You check who holds a .nz domain with the free domain lookup on the Domain Name Commission (DNC) website, and it takes about 2 minutes. The DNC oversees .nz domains. Its lookup is often called a "whois" search, and it works for .co.nz, .nz, .org.nz and the other .nz names.

### The 2-minute check

1. **Go to dnc.org.nz**: Find the domain search or whois lookup on the [Domain Name Commission website](https://dnc.org.nz/).
2. **Enter your domain**: Type your full domain, such as yourbusiness.co.nz, and search.
3. **Read the registrant**: The registrant is the domain holder. It should be you or your business, not your designer's company.
4. **Note the registrar and expiry date**: The registrar is the company you renew through. Put the expiry date in your calendar.

> **Can't tell from the result?** Some contact details may be withheld for privacy. If you can't tell who the holder is, ask the registrar shown in the result to confirm it in writing.

## Domains: you rent them, you don't buy them

You never buy a domain outright: it's registered for a set period and then renewed, and if it lapses someone else can register it. That's why auto-renew and a current email address matter.

You register a .nz domain through an authorised registrar (our guide on [how to register a .nz domain](https://websmarthq.com/guides/register-nz-domain/) covers the steps). To move it to another registrar, you use a code called a UDAI (Unique Domain Authentication ID). The registrar gives it to the registrant. If your designer is the registrant, they hold that power. The DNC explains [how to transfer a domain](https://dnc.org.nz/tools-and-services/how-do-i-2/transfer-my-domain-name/).

### What a domain costs in NZ

| Source | Published domain price |
| --- | --- |
| NZ cost guide (21 Mar 2026) | $20 to $40 a year (GST not stated) |
| NZ cost guide (2026) | $30 to $60 a year, ex GST |
| NZ cost guide (10 Jul 2026) | ~$25 a year, ex GST |
| NZ web designer's pricing page (3 Oct 2026) | $45 a year + GST |

_Published NZ prices, recorded 3 Oct 2026. Registrar prices vary, so check before you buy._

## What if your domain is in someone else's name?

If your domain is in someone else's name, ask them in writing to change the registrant to you, and the change is then made through the registrar. The DNC sets out the steps to [change a domain name holder](https://dnc.org.nz/tools-and-services/how-do-i-2/change-a-domain-name-holder/).

### How to get it back

1. **Ask politely, in writing**: Most designers registered it that way for convenience. Ask them to change the registrant to you.
2. **Change the holder through the registrar**: A change of holder is done through the registrar. The DNC website explains the process.
3. **Ask for the UDAI if you're moving**: Once you're the registrant, you can get the UDAI and move to any registrar you like.
4. **If it's disputed**: The DNC runs a [Dispute Resolution Service](https://www.dnc.org.nz/drs) for .nz domains. For contract questions, talk to a lawyer.

## What happens if you stop paying your designer?

If you stop paying your designer, what you keep depends on who holds the domain and hosting: if both are in your name, you keep both.

### Common set-ups, and what you keep

| Set-up | If you stop paying | What to ask for now |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Domain and hosting in your name | You keep both. Find a new designer when you like. | Logins for both, and a copy of your content |
| Domain yours, hosting with the designer | Site goes offline; domain is safe | A backup or export of the site |
| Domain and hosting in the designer's name | You may lose the site and the domain | Change the registrant to you, today |
| Monthly subscription site | Often you keep only what's in the contract | Read the exit terms before you sign |

## What your website contract should say

Your website contract should say the domain is registered in your name, you own the content you supply or pay for, and you get every login when you ask. Copyright in design and code depends on your agreement, and [IPONZ explains how copyright works](https://www.iponz.govt.nz/get-ip/copyright/) in NZ. If ownership matters to your business, get it in writing. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

### Ownership checklist for any quote

- The domain is registered in my name, or my business's name.
- I own the words, photos and logo I supply or pay for.
- I'm the primary owner of my Google Business Profile.
- I'm owner or admin on Google Analytics and Search Console.
- I get all logins when I ask, or when I leave.
- There's no lock-in, and leaving costs are written down.
- The price is fixed and agreed before work starts.

## Where Web Smart HQ fits

This is how we set things up at Web Smart HQ. Your domain, content, Google profile and analytics are in your name. We host the site, and you can move it any time. You can check your domain on dnc.org.nz whenever you like. Read [how we work](https://websmarthq.com/how-we-work/) and [our promise](https://websmarthq.com/our-promise/).

Not sure who holds yours? Send us your web address through our [free website check](https://websmarthq.com/free-website-check/). We check 12 things and send you the three fixes that matter most, in plain English. Packages start from $499 + GST on our [pricing page](https://websmarthq.com/pricing/).

## Questions

### Who legally owns my website: me or my web designer?

It depends on three things. The domain belongs to whoever is listed as registrant. The content you supply or pay for should be yours, by written agreement. The design or code may be licensed to you, depending on your contract. Check the registrant on dnc.org.nz, then read your contract. If it doesn't say, ask for ownership in writing. This isn't legal advice.

### How do I check who owns my .nz domain?

Go to the Domain Name Commission's website at dnc.org.nz and use its free domain lookup, often called a whois search. Enter your full domain, such as yourbusiness.co.nz. Read the registrant name: that's the holder. Note the registrar and the expiry date too. If details are withheld and you can't tell, ask the registrar to confirm the holder in writing.

### Can I buy a domain permanently?

No. Domains are registered for a set period and then renewed. If a renewal is missed and the domain lapses, someone else can register it. Turn on auto-renew, keep the contact email current, and put the expiry date in your calendar. Make sure you, not your designer, are the registrant, so renewal reminders and control stay with you.

### How much does a .co.nz domain cost each year?

NZ cost guides published in 2026 put a domain at about $20 to $60 a year, ex GST. Published NZ cost guides quote $20 to $40, $30 to $60 and about $25. Prices vary by registrar, and some charge more after the first year. Check the renewal price, not just the first-year price, before you register.

### What happens to my site if I stop paying my designer?

It depends who holds what. If the domain and hosting are in your name, you keep both. If only the domain is yours, the site may go offline, but you can rebuild on the same address. If the designer holds the domain, you could lose your web address too. Check the registrant on dnc.org.nz now, and ask for a backup.

### What should my website contract say about ownership?

It should say the domain is registered in your name. It should say you own the content you supply or pay for. You should be the primary owner of your Google Business Profile. You should be owner or admin on analytics and Search Console. Logins should be handed over when you ask. It should state any lock-in or leaving costs, and fix the price before work starts.

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Source: https://websmarthq.com/guides/who-owns-my-website-and-domain/
Web Smart HQ · Titirangi, Auckland 0604, New Zealand · hello@websmarthq.com · Business Lite $499 + GST, Business Plus $899 + GST