Changing the name of an overseas company
The steps you take to change an overseas company's name
To change the name of an overseas company, follow the same online process as for a New Zealand company. When you change your company's name, you need to pay a fee to reserve a new company name.
Changing the name of a company incorporated in Australia
If your company is incorporated with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), you must first register the change of name with ASIC. They notify us of the change. We then send an email to your communication address advising you that you also need to register the change of name on the New Zealand Companies Register.
Change the name of an overseas company
To reserve and change the name of a company incorporated overseas, you must have:
- a RealMe® login
- an online services account with the Companies Register, and
- authority to act for your company.
To change your company’s name, you must:
- reserve the new company name
- change the current company name to the new one.
1. Reserve the new name
Follow these steps.
- Search for your company using the company name, company number or New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).
- From the search results, select the company that’s changing its name.
- Choose the My tools menu, then under the Save column, select Change company name.
- Next select the button, I would like to reserve a new company name.
- Fill in the details.
- Pay the fee of $10 (plus GST).
- Select Submit.
If it's acceptable, we'll send an email confirming that your new name has been reserved. You can then register the name change.
If your company is registered in Australia
At step 5, you’ll be asked to enter your ACN number, so that the system can retrieve your new name from ASIC.
Reserve a new company name
2. Change the company name
Follow these steps.
- Search for your company using the company name, company number or New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).
- From the search results, select the name of the company you want to change.
- From the My tools menu, select Change company name.
- Next select Use an already reserved name.
- Choose the name you want to use from the list — even if there’s only 1.
- Select Submit.
3. We confirm your company's new name
We send an email confirming that the name of your company has changed and attach a Certificate of Registration.
All help topics
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Get an overview of how companies are structured, find out about the company records you need to keep, and what's involved when you incorporate with and report to the Companies Office.
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You need to comply with New Zealand laws when you incorporate your company with the Companies Office, including reserving a company name, appointing directors, issuing shares and registering for tax.
- Incorporating a company
- How to reserve a company name
- Transferring a company name reservation
- Company addresses
- Tax registration
- Registering the appointment of a director
- Registering a shareholder
- Filing director and shareholder consent forms
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- Incorporating with a company constitution
- How overseas companies set up as an NZ business
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Once your company is registered with the Companies Office, nominate who will have authority to file your annual returns, and update your name, address, constitution, director and shareholder details.
- How to file an annual return
- Confirming your authority to manage information
- Getting a copy of your company information
- Adding or removing a company constitution
- Changing a company name
- Updating company addresses
- Registering the appointment of a director
- Updating a director's details
- Managing share allocations
- Updating a shareholder's details
- Applying for a correction to the register
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Directors have responsibilities to their company and shareholders, and under the Companies Act 1993. You must register all your directors with the Companies Office and they must sign a consent form.
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Some large New Zealand and overseas companies, and all FMC reporting entities must submit audited annual financial statements to the Companies Office.
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Before they can carry out some business activities, companies incorporated in other countries, including Australia, must register with the Companies Office and then keep their company details up to date.
- Registering your company to do business in NZ
- How overseas companies set up as an NZ business
- How to transfer incorporation to NZ
- Financial reporting for overseas companies
- Reporting for NZ companies registered in Australia
- Annual returns for overseas companies
- Updating directors' details
- Updating addresses of overseas companies
- Changing the name of an overseas company
- Updating the constitution of an overseas company
- How to remove a company from the Overseas Register
Closing a company
11 guides
When your company closes down you need to remove it from the register. Your company can be removed if it amalgamates with another company or doesn't file its annual return.
- Before you close your company
- Removing your company from the register
- When the Registrar removes your company
- How to remove a company from the Overseas Register
- Objecting to the removal of a company
- Withdrawing an objection
- How companies amalgamate
- Before you apply for amalgamation
- Preparing documents for a short-form amalgamation
- Preparing documents for a long-form amalgamation
- Applying for company amalgamations
Restoring a company to the register
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Only some companies can be reinstated to the Companies Register once they've been removed. Find out who can apply, what evidence to provide and if you should apply to the Registrar or the High Court.
When your company fails
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Find out about voluntary administration, receivership and liquidation (external administration), and the roles and responsibilities of those appointed to manage your company's affairs.
- What happens during voluntary administration
- Appointment and responsibilities of administrators
- What happens after a watershed meeting
- What happens during receivership
- Appointment and responsibilities of receivers
- What happens during liquidation
- Appointment and responsibilities of liquidators
- Filing by administrators, liquidators or receivers
- Holding creditors' meetings
Managing your online account
9 guides
Creating an account with the Companies Office allows you to complete the majority of your transactions online. It's free to set up, but fees apply for some transactions, such as filing annual returns.
- Setting up your online services account
- Confirming your authority to manage information
- Managing who can use and update your account
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- Customising your online services account
- Schedule of fees
- Managing payments on the Companies Register
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Get help with any technical problems you have using the register, such as uploading documents or searching for companies, directors and shareholders.