What happens if your society does not reregister
Why it is important to act before 5 April 2026 (Easter Sunday)
Your society must actively decide whether to reregister under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 (2022 Act).
Before 5 April 2026 (Easter Sunday) your society must either:
- reregister to continue operating as an incorporated society, or
- appoint a liquidator, or
- wind up its operations and apply to be dissolved.
If your society decides not to reregister
Your society may decide to appoint a liquidator, or it can apply to be dissolved if it has ceased operations. Before applying to be dissolved, any assets the society has should be fully distributed and all liabilities discharged. [MA1] You should check and follow your society’s rules. These should explain the steps you must take to deal with your society’s assets and debts, and what meetings you must hold.
If your society chooses to appoint a liquidator or apply to be dissolved, you must do this before before 5 April 2026.
If your society does nothing
If your society does not reregister, appoint a liquidator, or apply to be dissolved before 5 April 2026 – it will be removed from the register.
The 2022 Act does not provide any grounds for objecting to its removal so, from 6 April, your society will cease to legally exist. This means it may:
- lose access to its bank accounts
- need to re-apply for an IRD number
- have its property and assets distributed as directed by the Registrar
- lose its separate legal identity.
- Members could be held personally liable for the society’s debts, financial obligations, or leases.
- Your society will not be able to sign any new contracts in its name.
- The name your society used will no longer have any protection – another group could incorporate using the same name.
Your society may apply to be restored to the register
The 2022 Act says societies that do not reregister before 5 April can apply to be restored to register. We will provide detailed guidance on this process soon. In the meantime, here are some key points to know.
You will need to provide the following information as part of your application:
- a copy of your society’s constitution – this must comply with the 2022 Act.
- contact details for your society – including the registered office address, addresses for communication, and details of at least 1 contact person.
- details of committee members and other officers – including their name, physical address, email address, and start date.
You will also need to pay a restoration application fee of $177.78 (plus GST).
Published 5 October 2023, updated 11 February 2026
Other guides in
Reregistering under the 2022 Act
- Get ready for reregistering
- Reregistration videos and tools
- Your society will need a constitution
- Using our Constitution Builder to draft or revise a society’s constitution
- Applying to reregister your society