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Incorporated Societies changes: what it means for branches | Issue 192

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Sep 8, 2023

NZDFA recently received notification from the NZ Companies Office of changes required for Re-registration as an incorporated society.  These changes will also apply to any NZDFA Branch that has applied separately to be an incorporated society. 

The main points to note are:

  1. Your society can apply to reregister under the new Act any time from 5 October 2023 to 5 April 2026.
  2. Under the new Act, your society will need to:
    1. provide a constitution that’s compliant with the new Act and includes an appropriate dispute resolution process.
    2. have a committee that’s responsible for managing the operation and affairs of your society.
    3. have at least 10 members and ensure all new members provide consent to becoming a member.
    4. provide at least one person’s contact details.

Please see the email from the NZ Companies Office below for more information or go to: https://is-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz/law-changes-for-societies/getting-ready-for-reregistering/

Reregistration for incorporated societies starts in October

In May 2022, we sent all societies an update about the upcoming law changes. We advised you that societies would need to reregister under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, from October 2023, and explained what the reregistration process means. 

What happens next?

Your society can apply to reregister under the new Act any time from 5 October 2023.

Key points to know about reregistering

Under the new Act, your society will need to:

  • provide a constitution that’s compliant with the new Act and includes an appropriate dispute resolution process.
  • have a committee that’s responsible for managing the operation and affairs of your society.
  • have at least 10 members and ensure all new members provide consent to becoming a member.
  • provide at least one person’s contact details.

Changes will only apply once you've reregistered

Even though law changes for incorporated societies are coming, for now your society’s rules must comply with the 1908 Act. This means your rules must cover things like the control and use of the common seal, and your society’s name must end with the word ‘Incorporated’.

What you can do now

You may like to review and update your society’s contact details on the Incorporated Societies Register now to make sure you continue to receive these email updates from us.

Read our guide — Updating your society's details on the register

There are a few things your society will need to do before it reregisters, such as preparing some documents and possibly adopting some new processes to comply with the new Act.

Read our guide — Getting ready for reregistering

How you can stay up to date

Visit the 'Law changes hub' on our website for the latest information about the law changes. Make sure you sign up to receive regular email updates , including our Law Changes Review newsletter.

If you have any questions about this update, feel free to email us at engage@societies.govt.nz. And if you think this information would be useful to others, please forward this on.
 
Registrar of Incorporated Societies

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