Check the name is available
Begin by checking that your name is capable of being reserved. For example, the name you choose cannot be identical or almost identical to another company name. It cannot be offensive or contain certain words that are restricted or protected by other legislation.
Search the Companies Register
Before you apply to reserve a company name conduct a free register search to ensure there are no other companies registered with an ‘identical or almost identical’ name.
Note | Names of companies that have been struck off are able to be reserved, provided that they are not identical or almost identical to another name currently recorded on the companies register.
Check for existing trade marks
We recommend that you also check whether the name you are interested in is registered as a trade mark. It is free to search the register of trade marks at the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) website.
Check on other name restrictions
Names that cannot be reserved
Almost any company name can be reserved, but here you will learn more about which names cannot be reserved.
Names that contravene other legislation
Certain names are protected or restricted by specific statutes. These may need approval from the relevant authorities before than can be reserved.
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Rejected names
We recommend that you complete a thorough search of the Companies Office Register to determine that the name you are trying to reserve is not identical or almost identical to a company already registered.
If your name is deemed to be too similar to another name or rejected for another reason you will need to complete a new name reservation application and pay another application fee.
