9 September 2025
DOIA25/082
B White
[FYI request #32048 email]
Tēnā koe B White
I refer to your request received on 18 August 2025, which has been considered under
the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). You requested the following information:
I am interested in information relating to the domain nzhistory.net.nz which was
previously occupied by a site owned by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
(see snapshot here
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20151116200028/http://www.nzhi
story.net.nz/)
Can you please provide information pertaining to the decision to shut down this
website.
NZ History has not been shut down and is still operational at NZHistory.govt.nz.
NZHistory.net.nz was the main domain for the website until 2016, at which point the
govt.nz domain was employed. This was in response to a request from the Department
of Internal Affairs (DIA) to move government domains to govt.nz. From the time the
domain was transferred in 2016, a series of redirects were put in place so that anyone
accessing the net.nz domain would be redirected to govt.nz.
The domain ‘NZHistory.net.nz’ was deregistered in mid-2024. DIA, as the Domain
Name System moderators for government agencies, reached out to the Ministry
following an audit to confirm whether a series of unused domains, including
‘NZHistory.net.nz’ were still required to be registered, given they each carry a cost to
maintain. As the domain had not been used since 2016 and redirects had been in
place for eight years to mitigate impacts on our audiences, we anticipated very little
impact from deregistering the domain and requested DIA to do so on our behalf.
While not limiting my request to this area - one area I would specifical y like to
understand is if any risk assessment was made in regard to this domain not being
renewed.
No specific risk assessment was made by the Ministry.
The domain seems to have been picked up by a registrant in Kazakhstan and is
advertising gambling websites. Was any assessment of backlinks done to ensure
that the impact of the site deletion would be minimal?
As the domain had not been used since 2016, and redirects had been in place for
eight years to mitigate impacts on our audiences, we anticipated very little impact from
deregistering the domain.
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available via
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Kartini Havell
Pou Mataaho o Te Hua – Acting Deputy Secretary, Delivery & Investment
Released under the Official Information Act (1982)
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