Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Companies Act 1993

Company names

24: Direction to change name

You could also call this:

“Registrar can require a company to change its name or assign a new one”

If the Registrar thinks a company’s name shouldn’t have been allowed, they can tell the company to change it. They’ll send a written notice, giving the company at least 20 working days to make the change.

If the company doesn’t change its name by the date given, the Registrar can choose a new name for the company. They’ll put this new name in the New Zealand register.

When the Registrar gives the company a new name, they’ll also give the company a new certificate of incorporation with the new name on it. This process works the same way as if the company had changed its name voluntarily.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM320128.

Topics:

Business > Industry rules

Business > Starting a business

23: Change of name, or

“How to change your company's name and what it means”

25: Use of company name, or

“Rules for how companies must use their name in documents and communications”

Part 4 Company names

24Direction to change name

If the Registrar believes on reasonable grounds that the name under which a company is registered should not have been reserved, the Registrar may serve written notice on the company to change its name by a date specified in the notice, being a date not less than 20 working days after the date on which the notice is served.
If the company does not change its name within the period specified in the notice, the Registrar may enter on the New Zealand register a new name for the company selected by the Registrar, being a name under which the company may be registered under this Part.
If the Registrar registers a new name under subsection (2), the Registrar must issue a certificate of incorporation for the company recording the new name of the company, and section 23(4) applies in relation to the registration of the new name as if the name of the company had been changed under that section.