Incorporating with a company constitution

Choosing whether or not to have a constitution

You can incorporate a company in New Zealand with or without a constitution. A constitution sets out the rights, powers and duties of the company, the board, each director and each shareholder.

Deciding to incorporate with a company constitution

When you incorporate a company you can:

  • incorporate your company without a constitution — your company is automatically governed by the Companies Act 1993
  • buy a constitution from a third party and upload one as part of your application
  • prepare and supply your own constitution — most people seek legal advice before preparing a constitution.

Buy a constitution

You can order and purchase an electronic copy of a constitution directly from a third-party providers, which you can find by searching the internet.

Write your own constitution

You can write and upload your own constitution. Seek legal or other professional advice before writing your own constitution.