Applying for a correction to the register
Step-by-step instructions for correcting your company details
If you've made a mistake in a document or in the details on the Companies Register, you can apply to have it corrected.
Authority to request a correction
To request a correction to the Companies Register you must have:
- a RealMe® login
- an online services account with the Companies Register
- authority to act for your company.
Request a correction
To request a correction to the register, log in to your online services account, enter a company name, company number or New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) and follow these steps.
- From the Companies details page, select My tools.
- Select Lodge other documents.
- Select Request to correct the register.
- Use the comments field to tell us how the mistake happened and the correction you think should be made.
- Select Browse or Choose File to attach any supporting documents — for example a document that needs to be replaced.
- Select Submit.
Processing your request
We send an email when your request has been reviewed:
- confirming if the correction has been made, or
- advising you if we have to give public notice before the correction is made — this may happen if you've requested a correction to information on the register that was filed by another person.
Giving public notice
We must give public notice of our intention to correct the register on both our website and in the New Zealand Gazette. The correction will be processed if no objection is received by us within 20 working days of publishing the public notice.
If someone objects
If we receive a written objection within 20 working days of publishing the public notice, we won't be able to process the correction.
In this case we notify you and send you a copy of the objection. You then have the option to consider applying to the High Court for an order under section 360B of the Companies Act 1993. The correction will be made if the order is granted by the High Court.
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.
- Incorporating a company
- How to reserve a company name
- 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
- Ultimate holding companies
Keeping company details up to date
12 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.
- How to file an annual return
- Getting authority to update company records
- 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
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 Financial Markets Conduct 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.
- 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 long-form amalgamation
- Preparing documents for a short-form amalgamation
- Applying for company amalgamations
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.
- What happens during voluntary administration
- 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
5 guides
Get help with any technical problems you have using the register, such as uploading documents or searching for companies, directors and shareholders.