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Starting an incorporated society
You apply to incorporate a society under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 by sending the following documents to the Registrar of Incorporated Societies.
- An application form (signed by 15 members, with signatures witnessed by someone who has not signed the application form as a member)
- A copy of the society’s rules certified by an officer or solicitor of the society
- The filing fee - NZ$100.
The address you should send these documents to is:
Registrar of Incorporated Societies
Ministry of Economic Development
National Processing Centre
Private Bag 92061
Victoria Street West
Auckland 1142
Getting started - what you need to do before you can incorporate
Before you reach the point of being ready to file your application to incorporate a new society there are several things you need to do.
What must be included in the application form?
You will need to enter the following information on the application form.
Choosing a name
Before finalising your society's name you need to be sure that the name you choose will be allowed to be used by your society.
Rules of incorporated societies
The Incorporated Societies Act 1908 requires every incorporated society to have a set of rules. The rules set out how the society is run.
Creating a branch
A society that has members in a number of regions may want to establish branch societies.
How does my charitable organisation qualify for a tax exemption?
If an Incorporated Society or Charitable Trust benefits the community in a charitable way and meets certain criteria outlined by Inland Revenue, they may be granted a non-profit tax exemption.