Company addresses

Contact addresses and information you must provide

You must provide addresses and contact details for any new company registered on the Companies Register. This includes the address of the registered office, where your company records are usually held, and addresses for service and correspondence.

Contact details you must provide

A company must have:

  • a registered office — where the company books and records are kept
  • an address for service — where legal documents are delivered
  • an address for communication.

If any of the addresses you provide are in a building with other businesses, provide full details of the location, for example an office number or the level its on in the building.

Your company's registered office and address for service

The address of the registered office and the address for service must be physical addresses in New Zealand. In most cases, the registered office address is the address where your company's records, including your share register, are kept.

The address for service is where legal documents, such as court documents, are delivered.

The registered office and address for service don't need to be the place where your business trades. For example, many businesses use the address of their accountant or solicitor as both their registered office and address for service.

Your company's communication address

For communications from the Registrar you must provide:

  • a postal or physical address, and
  • an email address.

We use your email address to send reminders about filing your annual return and other important information.

Receiving annual return reminders

Other contact details

You can also choose to give us your phone numbers — landline, mobile or your company's fax number. These are not made public on the Companies Register.

Verifying address details

The address details you enter into the register are verified against the address recorded on the New Zealand Post database. You can enter the address manually if the address is not found in the New Zealand Post database.

Where company records are held

If your company records are not held at its registered office, you must tell us the physical address where you hold them — it can't be a Post Office box.

Where the company's share register is held

You must keep the share register in New Zealand. It's kept at the company's registered office, unless your constitution says:

  • it can be held at another address, or
  • that you can divide the register, for example into 2 or more registers, and keep the parts in different places.

Keeping company records

If any addresses change

You must keep all address details up to date on the Companies Register. Anyone with company authority can change or update the company's address details online.

Updating company addresses

All help topics

Before you start a company 5 guides

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.

Starting a company 12 guides

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.

Keeping company details up to date 13 guides

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.

See all 13 guides for Keeping company details up to date

Shares and shareholders 7 guides

When you incorporate, you must provide details of all company shares and shareholders. As changes occur, you must update this information on your own share register and in your company's annual return.

Company directors 7 guides

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.​

Filing annual returns 7 guides

Find out about filing an annual return — the information you need to update, how to change your filing month or request a time extension — and what happens if you don't file your annual return by the due date.

Complying with the law 11 guides

Find out how New Zealand law affects the directors and shareholders of your company, and your responsibility to create and maintain accurate company records, report to us and file financial statements.

Financial reporting 7 guides

​Some large New Zealand and overseas companies, and all FMC reporting entities must submit audited annual financial statements to the Companies Office.

Managing an overseas company in New Zealand 11 guides

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.

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.

Restoring a company to the register 4 guides

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 9 guides

Find out about voluntary administration, receivership and liquidation (external administration), and the roles and responsibilities of those appointed to manage your company's affairs.

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.

Getting support to use the Companies Register 6 guides

Get help with any technical problems you have using the register, such as uploading documents or searching for companies, directors and shareholders.