A group of New Zealand expatriates have applied for a .kiwi generic top level domain name (gTLD), it has been reported.
Dot Kiwi Ltd has applied to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for the gTLD and paid the required $185,000 fee.
The company – which is registered in New Zealand but headquartered in Vancouver, Canada – says profits from a .kiwi domain name would be channelled into the rebuilding of Christchurch.
Large parts of the city, which lies on the country’s South Island, were destroyed by an earthquake in early 2011.
“I was keen to provide a way for New Zealanders around the world to connect and claim their Kiwiness online,” said Tim Johnson, chief executive at Dot Kiwi Ltd.
“I could also see a great opportunity to provide on-going financial support for the re-building of one of New Zealand’s most beautiful cities and my hometown.”