Company names that breach legislation
A reference list of names that are protected by legislation
Part of: How to reserve a company name
There are some names you can't use for your company because they're protected or restricted by legislation. Before you can reserve any of these names, check if you need to contact the relevant agency or person to get their approval.
If you want to use a restricted name
Before you can reserve some of these names, you may need to contact a government agency to get their approval. If you do need approval, upload a copy of the approval letter when you apply to reserve the name.
Government A to Z — contact details for government agencies
Reference list of restricted or protected names
This reference list only contains examples and is not intended as a complete list of protected or restricted names or phrases. As existing legislation changes or new legislation is introduced, we add and remove names from the list.
A to D
A
Agricultural Research Centre
Air Guide
Air Ranger
Animal Research Laboratory
Anzac
Aotea Centre
Aotea Auckland Centre
B
Bank
Banker
Banking
Boy Scout
Brownie
Brown Owl
C
Carillon
Civil Aviation Authority
Co-operative — unless it's a co-operative company
D
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Dominion Physical Laboratory
DSIR or D.S.I.R.
E to I
E
Eagle Owl
G
Geneva Cross
Girl Guide
Girl Guides Association
Government
Government Department
Governor-General
Greyhound Racing Association
Guider
H
Hall of Memories
Harness Racing New Zealand
Hillary Commission for Sport, Fitness and Leisure
Her Majesty
House of Representatives
Housing Corporation of New Zealand
I
Institute of Nuclear Sciences
Insurance
International Atomic Energy Agency
International Bank of Reconstruction and Development
International Criminal Police Organisation
International Development Association
International Finance Corporation
Interpol
J to N
L
Land Transport Safety Authority
Laughing Owl
Lone Guide
M
MAF
Management Consultancy Services
Māori Battalion
Māori Fisheries Commission
Maritime Safety Authority
Minister
Minister of the Crown
Museum of New Zealand
N
National Archives
National Art Gallery
National Museum
National Provident Fund
National War Memorial
NECAL
New Zealand Communicable Disease Centre
New Zealand Film Commission
New Zealand Export-Import Corporation
New Zealand Oceanographic Institute
New Zealand Planning Council
New Zealand Soil Bureau
NZGS
O to R
O
Olympic Games
P
Parliament
Physics and Engineering Laboratory
Post Guide
Q
Queen
R
Racing Conference
Ranger Guide
Red Crescent
Red Cross
Red Lion and Sun
Returned Services
Returned Services Association
Royal
Royal Charter
RSA
Ruakura
S to Z
S
Scout
Scout Association
Sea Guide
Sea Ranger
Soil Conservation Centre
T
Tawny Owl
Te Hokowhitu Māori 28
Te Ope Hōia Māori 28
Te Ope Taua Māori 28
Te Papa Tongarewa
Testing Laboratory Registration
Toc H
U
UN
UNESCO
United Nations
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
Universities
W
War Memorial
Wheat Research Institute
WHO
World Bank
World Health Organisation
World Meteorological Organisation
Names beginning with numbers
28 Māori Battalion
28th Māori Battalion
28th Māori Battalion Association
28th Māori Battalion (NZ) Association Incorporated
More 'How to reserve a company name' guides:
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
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- Transferring a company name reservation
- Company addresses
- Tax registration
- Registering the appointment of a director
- Registering a shareholder
- Filing director and shareholder consent forms
- Issuing shares in a company
- 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
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- 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
- Changing your financial reporting month
Shares and shareholders
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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
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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.
Filing annual returns
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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
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Some large New Zealand and overseas companies, and all Financial Markets Conduct reporting entities must submit audited annual financial statements to the Companies Office.
Managing an overseas company in New Zealand
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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
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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.
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- 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
- Getting authority to update company records
- Managing who can use and update your account
- Forgotten your RealMe® username or password
- Customising your online services account
- Schedule of fees
- Managing payments on the Companies Register
- Lodging other documents
- Filing documents with electronic signatures
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.