The New Zealand Domain Name Commission Policy (see: www.dnc.org.nz) requires that all website domain name owners record the true name of the registrant (the legal owner) and this must be a legal “Person” – either an individual person or a legally constituted Person/entity (e.g. a registered company or Society).

On Sunday 5 June the NZ Herald published a story about a banned company director who is promoting a “new business” (prostitution) which has a website (named in the NZ Herald) involving an escort agency (prostitution) directory. However, the website domain name, first registered on  21 March 2011, is listed as being owned by a defunct company – Truth Publications Ltd – a company which was struck off the Register of companies on 25 February 2011.  It was put into liquidation on 21 October 2009 and the auditor’s report showed it owed over $600,000 to creditors. Therefore AFTER Truth Publications Ltd was struck off, the NZXescorts domain name was registered to it. The registrant’s email is given as dermott@truth.co.nz (Dermott Malley was one of two directors of the now defunct company).

The banned director is reported to be planning to stage an Auckland City hardcore pornography promo event on 24 September 2011 to promote his escort agency business.

The Registrar of Companies, the Manager of the National Enforcement Unit of the Companies Office and the senior officials of the Ministry of Economic Development, will no doubt be very interested to learn about those who may have deliberately supplied false information pertaining to companies to those administering public registers.