How to search the Incorporated Societies Register

What you can search for

Information available on the register for an incorporated society includes its:

• name
• incorporation number
• New Zealand Business Number
• date of incorporation
• addresses
• officer details (where recorded)
• constitution or rules
• annual financial statements (for society’s not registered as charities).

Searching the register

To conduct a search, enter a society’s name, incorporation number or New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) into the search bar on the register’s homepage.

A ‘quick-search’ list of results will appear immediately, providing basic information for societies matching your search criteria, including society name, incorporation number, NZBN and current status.

For a more detailed list of results, which includes addresses and incorporation date, click on ‘All results’ at the top right-hand corner of the page, or the ‘View more detailed results’ link at the bottom of the quick-search list of results.

Viewing a society’s information

To view the publicly available information we hold for an incorporated society, click on its name in the search results list.

Access to a society’s documents

All public documents filed with us are available free of charge. These include:

• a copy of the society’s rules
• copies of the annual financial statements
• change of address forms (if any).

To access a society’s documents

1. Search for the incorporated society, as described above.
2. Click on the society’s name.
3. On the ‘View Details’ screen, click on the ‘Filings’ tab.
4. Choose from the list of documents by clicking the link.
5. Click on the document number to view, or export the document as a PDF.

Archived documents

All documents filed since April 2002 are available electronically. Prior to 2002, the last complete set of amended rules or trust deed variations are also available electronically.

Archived documents for incorporated societies that were declared dissolved prior to 31 Dec 2002 are available from Archives New Zealand.

A search for any archived document can be made on the Archives New Zealand website

If the records are not available electronically or through Archives New Zealand, the society should be approached directly for a copy.

Other guides in

Searching the Incorporated Societies Register

• Searching our other registers

Other help topics