Website www.drct.kiwi.nz has been confirmed as New Zealand’s 500,000th active domain name within the .NZ domain space.

Belonging to the Disabilities Resource Centre Trust (DRCT), representatives from .NZ are to award the company with $1000 to celebrate the milestone.

Approved by the Domain Name Commission (DNC) in September, DNC commissioner Debbie Monahan says the 500,000th registration "demonstrates the evolving nature of New Zealand’s online landscape, showing people do see benefits in having unique and relevant domain names."

“This is a momentous occasion for New Zealand. Every day people choose .NZ domain names," she says.

"This is because people are proud to have a uniquely Kiwi web presence and because of the diligent efforts of domain registrars who actively promote .NZ."

The winning domain was registered through 1st Domains, one of 80 Registrars supporting .NZ domain names registrations.

CEO of the DCRT Bronwen Foxx says the news that her organisation registered the 500,000th .NZ domain name came as a complete shock.

“The DRCT provides disability support services in the Eastern Bay of Plenty,” she says.

“Our mission is to assist people with disabilities to achieve their goals.

"We employ 180 people who provide home care services, information, vocational services, supported independent living, and field officer services to our clients.

“A web presence is a really vital tool for us providing services and information to our clients. We feel very privileged to get the domain name drct.kiwi.nz as we think this will also give us a wider market to sell from.”

The .NZ domain space is jointly managed by the DNC and the NZ Domain Name Registry.