Search and document delivery at a glance
- Search online
- Company Extract is available from the public company profile without an account. [2] [6]
- Search language
- English. Choose between “Companies” and “Directors & shareholders”. [8]
- Digital documents
- The Company Extract can be viewed, saved or printed as a PDF. Optional email delivery is available. [2]
- Document language
- The standard Company Extract is in English. [9]
- Paper and collection
- Not specified
- International delivery
- Not specified
- Fees at a glance
- Company searches and Company Extracts are free. A linked PPSR security-interest search costs NZD 2 plus GST separately.
- Access
- Public search and Company Extract without RealMe. Accounts apply to company administration and PPSR searches.
Choose the right register
The New Zealand Companies Office maintains the Companies Register for domestic companies and overseas companies registered in New Zealand. Sole traders, limited partnerships and other organisations have separate register routes. An NZBN search helps where the entity type is unclear. [1] [6]
Start with the register profile, then save a Company Extract as a PDF. Use filed documents to investigate historical information. The register also identifies removed companies and relevant insolvency or administration statuses. [1] [2]
Names and abbreviations explained
- Companies OfficeNew Zealand Companies Office
- The authority maintaining the Companies Register and other business and organisation registers. [6]
- NZBNNew Zealand Business Number
- A business identifier spanning different entity types and registers, usable alongside the Company Number. [1] [6]
- RealMeRealMe login
- The government login service. Public searches and Company Extracts do not require it. [2]
- Annual ReturnAnnual company register filing
- Confirms or updates company information. It is not a set of financial statements. [1] [3]
- PPSRPersonal Property Securities Register
- A separate register of security interests in personal property. [1]
Search step by step
Identify a company and download an extract
Search by name or identifier
Enter the company name, Company Number or NZBN. Refine broad results using entity type, status, incorporation date range or address keywords. [1]
Interpret the status
Open the matching result and compare its identifiers and address. Registered identifies a registered company; Removed identifies a removed company. Approved may describe an approved name reservation. [1]
Save the Company Extract
Select Company Extract in the profile, then View document in the document preview. Save or print the PDF. The service also offers optional email delivery. [2]
Check history and supporting filings
Review addresses, directors, shareholders and documents. Annual returns, consent forms, a filed constitution and relevant insolvency reports provide additional evidence. [1]
Search from a person or an overseas entity
Use the person search
Search directors or shareholders by name. Advanced filters distinguish current and ceased roles and the status of the company. Compare additional details before joining records belonging to people with the same name. [1]
Include overseas registrations
The Overseas Register is part of the company search. Overseas ASIC company identifies Australian entities; Overseas non-ASIC company identifies entities from other jurisdictions. Check the incorporation jurisdiction’s register as well. [1]
Documents and fees
| Document / information | Contents and purpose | Fee | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Extract [2] [6] | PDF summarising company details, status, addresses, directors and shareholdings. | Free public access. | Select Company Extract in the profile; no account required. |
| Annual Return and other filed documents [1] [6] | Register updates, director consents, a filed constitution and applicable insolvency documents. Available years and content depend on the filing list. | Public research route without a separate document purchase. | Documents tab in the company profile. |
| Financial Statements [1] [3] | Filed accounts for companies subject to financial reporting obligations. Not mandatory for every company. | Public register access. | Check the document list, reporting obligation and financial year. |
| PPSR Search [1] | A separate search for registered security interests. | NZD 2 plus GST per search according to register guidance. | PPSR account or login required. |
What the public profile contains
Basic details include the name, Company Number, NZBN, incorporation date and status. Profiles also contain current and previous registered addresses, service addresses and records addresses. Director information includes names, addresses and appointment and cessation dates. [1]
Shareholding information identifies shareholders and their share parcels. Listed companies and companies with extensive shareholder lists may show only the ten largest parcels. Obtain the full list from the company in that case. Changes may only appear when the next annual return is filed. [1]
An overseas company registered in New Zealand must file a translation alongside the original if its constitution is not in English. When researching such a company, look for the translated constitution as well as the original. [10]
When financial statements are available
An annual return is not a balance sheet. Not every New Zealand company must file public financial statements. The requirements cover specified large companies with overseas connections and entities reporting under the Financial Markets Conduct Act. [3]
The authority specifies thresholds above NZD 22 million in assets or NZD 11 million in revenue, in each of the two preceding accounting periods, for the relevant large New Zealand subsidiaries of overseas companies and large overseas companies. The stated size thresholds for New Zealand companies with at least 25% overseas voting ownership are above NZD 66 million and NZD 33 million respectively. Additional group rules and exemptions apply. [3] [4]
Large reporting companies generally have five months after their balance date to file. The specified financial market reporting entities have four months. A missing recent financial year may therefore still fall within the filing period. [3] [4]
Access from abroad
The official instructions allow anyone to obtain an extract for any company listed on the register. Neither a RealMe login nor a Companies Office account is required. This public route does not require authentication as a New Zealand company representative. [2]
Account prompts also appear for company maintenance tasks. Use the public search for research. The separate PPSR search linked from a company profile does require a login and costs NZD 2 plus New Zealand goods and services tax, GST. [1] [6]
Shareholders and ultimate beneficial ownership
Treat shareholding information as evidence of the shareholders recorded in this register. Limited lists and possible delays until an annual return prevent it from establishing a complete, current ownership chain on its own. Follow corporate shareholders through their own jurisdiction’s official registers. [1]
Large result sets and recurring research
You can export lists of up to 1,000 search results. Refine the search above that limit. The Companies Office also offers regularly updated data files and APIs for larger data requirements, subject to the relevant access or subscription process. [1] [5]
The government developer documentation directs users to the NZBN API for public business information. The Companies API primarily supports incorporation and maintenance where the user has authority over the company. These services have different purposes. [7]
Avoid common mistakes
- Approved can refer to a reserved company name rather than an incorporated company. [1]
- An annual return is a register filing, not financial statements. [1] [3]
- A list of ten share parcels can be incomplete where a company has many shareholders. [1]
- An unsuccessful company-name search does not exclude a sole trader or another separately registered entity type. [6]
Frequently asked questions
Do I need RealMe when searching from overseas?
No for company searches and Company Extracts. The authority explicitly allows anyone to obtain an extract without a RealMe or Companies Office account. [2]
Can I find former directors?
Yes. The register describes current and former director information, and person searches can be filtered for current or ceased roles. [1]
Why are a registered company’s accounts missing?
Check the applicable reporting category and filing deadline. [3]
Original sources
Sources reviewed: 16 September 2026. The guidance is based on the linked information published by registers and public authorities.
- Searching the Companies Register New Zealand Companies Office
- Getting a copy of your company information New Zealand Companies Office
- Who needs to submit financial statements New Zealand Companies Office
- Financial reporting for overseas companies New Zealand Companies Office
- Ways to get our data New Zealand Companies Office
- Searching our other registers New Zealand Companies Office
- Companies API Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Companies Register: public search and result export New Zealand Companies Office
- Company Extract: document language New Zealand Companies Office
- Adding, amending or removing a company constitution New Zealand Companies Office