Searching using other applications

Make the most of our data with our APIs and NZAUConnect

Through our Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), you can access data on the Companies Register in ways that speed up your business activities. If you regularly search for companies registered in Australia or New Zealand, then our mobile application, NZAUConnect can make this easier.

Using our APIs

Anyone who searches for large volumes of data on the Companies Register (or other Companies Office registers) could benefit from connecting directly to our data using an API.

Using our data through APIs

Searching for companies registered in Australia or New Zealand

Together with the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC), we've developed a mobile application that lets you do a combined search of our Companies Register and the ASIC Register of Australian companies.

The application is free to download and free to search.

What you can search for

You can search for:

  • details of more than 2.5 million New Zealand and Australian companies
  • more than 1.7 million organisations on the Australian Business Names Register.

How to use it

Download NZAUConnect from the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store and follow these steps.

Google Play Available on the App Store

  1. Open NZAUConnect on your mobile device to see the home page.
  2. Choose to search for a company By name or By number. You can also choose to search in both New Zealand and Australia, or just one country.
  3. To see more information about a company, select the company name.
  4. Use the back arrow to return to the search results.

Find out about NZAUConnect YouTube

Filtering your results

You can filter your results by:

  • country — select the Australia tab or the New Zealand tab
  • registration status — to filter out unregistered companies and business names, select Display registered only.

Saving your results

You can keep a note of companies you want to find again, or send or copy a company's details.

On the screen showing the details of a company, select from the icons at the top right of the screen to add a favourite or share your results. To:

  • add the company to your list of favourites, select the Favourites icon then Continue
  • share the company details, select the Share icon — then choose to Email the details using your mobile phone's mail service or Copy the details so you can save them elsewhere.

Troubleshooting

If you get the message, 'Unable to connect', check that:

  • you're connected to Wi-Fi or your data connection is turned on
  • the Companies Register is online — a message about outages is normally displayed on our home page.

If the wrong data seems to be displayed in search results, try refreshing your search. We might have been updating the information for a company.

All help topics

Before you start a company 7 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 11 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 8 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 8 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 8 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 8 guides

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