Registering the appointment of a director

Time limit for completing registration

After you have entered a director's details on the Companies Register, we email you a consent form. This must be:

• signed by the director, and
• returned to us within 20 working days.

Information you need to complete registration

To register the appointment of a director you must tell us their:

• full legal name
• date and place of birth — this information is not made publicly available
• residential address — this must be a physical street address, not a PO Box, Private Bag or DX service
• date of appointment.

You can also tell us their email address, telephone, mobile and fax numbers if you want.

When you enter a director's details, our system automatically alerts you if this person is listed as a banned director or undischarged bankrupt. A warning also appears if this person has a similar name to a banned person.

How to register the appointment of a director

To register a new director, you must have:

• a RealMe® login
• an online account with us, and
• confirmed your authority with us.

Step by step

There are 2 steps to registering a director

1. Add the director's details

Follow these steps.

1. Log in.
2. Search for the company using its name, company number or New Zealand Business Number (NZBN)
3. Select the Directors tab.
4. Select Add new director.
5. Enter all requested information.
6. Select Submit.

2. Sign and return the consent form

Once you have entered the director's details, we email you a consent form in that person's name.

The director must sign and return the form to us within 20 working days. In signing the form, the director certifies they are not disqualified from being appointed, or holding office as a director.

Preparing director's consents beforehand

If you prefer to prepare consent forms ahead of time, download these blank forms.

If you need to correct director details

When registering the appointment of a director, you can only make an online correction to their details if they have not yet returned a signed consent form to us.

To make a correction follow these steps.

1. Log in
2. From your account dashboard select the company from the 'My Applications' list.
3. Select the 'Edit' link next to 'Directors'.
4. Make the required changes to the director's details.
5. Submit.

We will email you an updated consent form.

If you need to withdraw a director registration

You can only withdraw the registration of a director if they have not yet returned their signed consent form to us.

To withdraw a registration follow these steps.

1. Log in.
2. From your account dashboard select the company from the 'My Applications' list.
3. Select 'Update company details'.
4. Select the 'Directors' tab.
5. Select the 'Withdraw' button alongside the director's name.
6. Submit.

Appoint an alternate director

If your company's constitution permits it, an alternate director can be appointed to act in a director's place.

The alternate director must:

• be registered as a director of your company within 20 working days of appointment
• sign and return a consent form to us.

Related articles

• What it means to be a director From Company directors
• Who can be a director From Company directors

Other guides in

Company directors

• Resources for new directors
• What it means to be a director
• Who can be a director
• Banned directors
• Updating a director's details
• Filing director and shareholder consent forms

Other help topics