Tag Archive for: Companies Office

Company information

Something you may not be aware of is just how much information about companies is freely available public information.

The information about all companies on the Companies Office website includes

  • Company number and date the company was formed
  • Shareholder names, addresses and number of shares held (not value)
  • Director names and addresses
  • Documents filed for a company with the Companies Office (Annual returns, Change of Shareholder and Director details etc)
  • Registered Office details
  • Previous names of the company

This relates to every company on the New Zealand Companies Office Register

Changes to Annual Company Returns

More detail in Companies Office annual returns

From 1 July, annual returns to the Companies Office must include extra information about company directors so if we manage your annual company return we will be asking you for extra information. The following is from a recent Business Insider Newsletter from www.business.govt.nz :

Filing an annual return will remain a quick and easy process, but you will need to take the time to gather the following details:

  1. Date and place of birth for each director of the company you’re filing the annual return for (don’t worry – this information will not be publicly available).
  2. Details of an ultimate holding company, if applicable, including where the holding company is registered. (If you’re unsure what an ultimate holding company is, check the shares and shareholders section of the Companies Office website.)

If this information is missing, the annual return will not be accepted and the company may be removed from the register.

Remember, by 28 October 2015, all New Zealand incorporated companies must have at least one director who lives in New Zealand, or a director who lives in Australia and who is also a director of an Australian incorporated company.

See Companies Act: what to do and when to do it  for more information and case studies