About us

The Companies Office is the government agency responsible for the administration of corporate body registers, including the Companies Register, occupational registers and the register of personal property securities (PPSR).

The Companies Office is an operating business unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment formerly the Ministry of Economic Development).  From 1 July 2012, references to the Ministry of Economic Development should be read as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The Companies Office has two main objectives:

1. To facilitate ease of doing business in New Zealand by providing easy to use and highly available corporate registers and easily accessible information.
2. To maintain confidence in the corporate registers it administers through a focus on integrity and taking enforcement action where this is necessary.

What is the Companies Register?

The New Zealand Register of Companies is an electronic register where company information and documents can be filed and viewed online on this website.

Companies with limited liability provide a framework for investment in business.  They help foster confidence in businesses by governing the relationships between investors (shareholders), directors and creditors and by giving stakeholders a clearer picture of who and what they are dealing with.

A Register of Companies records basic details about every company and helps build this confidence.  

The Registrar of Companies also provides services, or is responsible for:

• Receivership, liquidation and voluntary administration management
• Registration of prospectuses
• Financial Reporting Act

Other registers

Personal Property Securities Register

Occupational registers

Financial Service Providers Register

Motor Vehicle Traders Register, and

Auditors Register.