2022-01-26 .nz registry replacement technical newsletter
============================================================

Kia ora! 


Welcome to the first .nz registry replacement technical newsletter in 2022.


You are receiving it because you have nominated yourself as the primary contact for the .nz registry replacement project.


In today’s newsletter: 


* IRS go-live date preferences

* Key dates to note

* Onboarding connection form

* Technical changes documentation 

* Operational testing environment (OTE) updates

* Billing changes from monthly to yearly 

* Registrars technical forum 


**IRS go-live date preferences**

We are planning for the InternetNZ Registry System (IRS) migration date, and are keen to hear about your preferences of time and days of the week for it. 


You received an email regarding the migration last week. If you wish to share your preference you will need to do so by the end of January. 


**Key dates to note**

* **February 2022:**

  * We’ll let you know the IRS migration date.

  * You will get a follow-up call if you have missed the onboarding connection form deadline.

  * We’ll set up some webinars covering more detail of what the changes will mean for you.

  * Formal OTE staggered testing starts. 

* **March 2022:** you’ll receive a new IRS service connection agreement. 

* **April 2022:** your deadline for sending the connection agreement back to us.

* **June 2022:** official testing ends and production onboarding kicks off.



**Onboarding connection form**

You will get a follow-up phone call if you have missed the onboarding connection form deadline. We are happy to offer help with filling out the form if needed. It is essential to send your connection form back, so we can give you access to the OTE for testing and migration to the IRS later in the year. 


**Technical changes documentation**

The first version of the technical changes documentation is available online. We are planning to have it updated with each IRS release.

`Technical changes from Legacy SRS to IRS <https://docs.internetnz.nz/registry/Technical_Changes/>`_ (InternetNZ Product Documentation website).

Any feedback/comments on the documentation will help us shape the upcoming versions. Please email your feedback/comments to registry.replacement@internetnz.net.nz.


**Billing changes from monthly to yearly**

The .nz domain registration minimum term is changing from one month to one year. This change will come into effect after the IRS goes live.

The change in billing will affect your customers if they pay for their domains monthly. We’ll be in touch with you and your accounts team directly to help transition your .nz registrants from monthly to yearly renewals over the next few months. 

If you only offer annual registrations of .nz domains, the change of billing won’t affect your registrants. 


**Registrars technical forum**

The next registrars technical forum is scheduled for mid-February. We will cover the billing changes from monthly to yearly. You will receive a calendar invitation shortly. 

If you have any topics in mind that you would like us to cover in the upcoming forum, please email these to registry.replacement@internetnz.net.nz 


**Join our Slack channel and ask questions**

We encourage you to connect with us and with your fellow .nz registrars through the Slack channel.

You can join via this link: `Registry replacement slack channel <https://join.slack.com/t/nzregistryreplacement/shared_invite/zt-wrdw54yd-fjZE3u5n3SrQWLxvsxbwLA>`_