Companies Office
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Companies Office (a business unit of the New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development
) is a government agency that provides business registry services
in relation to corporate entities
, personal property
and capital market
securities
. It delivers nearly all its services through electronic systems and the Internet
.
The Companies Office was the first government corporate registry in the world to allow access over the Internet to statutory corporate information. The site went live in 1996. In 1999 the Companies Office was the first in the world to allow the incorporation of companies over the Internet.
New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development
The Ministry of Economic Development is a New Zealand public sector organisation tasked with promoting development of New Zealand's economy....
) is a government agency that provides business registry services
Business license
Business licenses are permits issued by government agencies that allow individuals or companies to conduct business within the government's geographical jurisdiction. It is the authorization to start a business issued by the local government....
in relation to corporate entities
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
, personal property
Personal property
Personal property, roughly speaking, is private property that is moveable, as opposed to real property or real estate. In the common law systems personal property may also be called chattels or personalty. In the civil law systems personal property is often called movable property or movables - any...
and capital market
Capital market
A capital market is a market for securities , where business enterprises and governments can raise long-term funds. It is defined as a market in which money is provided for periods longer than a year, as the raising of short-term funds takes place on other markets...
securities
Security (finance)
A security is generally a fungible, negotiable financial instrument representing financial value. Securities are broadly categorized into:* debt securities ,* equity securities, e.g., common stocks; and,...
. It delivers nearly all its services through electronic systems and the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
Activities
Its registers relate to companies, personal property securities, superannuation funds, incorporated societies, building societies, charitable trusts, unit trusts, friendly societies and credit unions. The office also has compliance, prosecution and enforcement functions under the Companies Act, Securities Act, Corporations (Investigation and Management) Act 1989, Financial Reporting Act along with others.Electronic register
The Companies Office's website includes an electronic register available to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides the online searching, incorporation and maintenance services for New Zealand registered companies or other body corporates.The Companies Office was the first government corporate registry in the world to allow access over the Internet to statutory corporate information. The site went live in 1996. In 1999 the Companies Office was the first in the world to allow the incorporation of companies over the Internet.
Other registers
The Companies Office is also responsible for the administration of the following registers:- The Societies and Trusts Register.
- The Personal Property Securities RegisterPersonal Property Securities RegisterThe Personal Property Securities Register is an electronic register that allows security interests in personal property to be registered and searched in accordance with the New Zealand Personal Property Securities Act 1999 and the Australian Personal Property Securities Act 2009.The New Zealand...
(PPSR) is a fully electronic register where information about security interests in personal property are recorded and searched. The PPSR is available to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. - The Motor Vehicle Traders Register (MVTR) is publicly available electronic register that contains information about whether a motor vehicle trader is registered, and information about the trader's business, including its physical address.
- The New Zealand Companies Office is a founding member of the Corporate Registers ForumCorporate Registers ForumThe Corporate Registers Forum is an association of international corporate registries.The membership is open to government agencies and their officials responsible for the administration of body corporate registers ....
(an international association of corporate registries) and is an International member of the International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA).