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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Companies Act 1993

Disclosure by companies - Inspection of company records

215: Public inspection of company records

You could also call this:

“How you can see a company's important information”

If you want to look at a company’s records, you can ask to see them. The company must let you see these things:

  1. The paper that says the company is officially registered
  2. The company’s rules, if they have them
  3. A list of who owns shares in the company
  4. Information about the company that owns this company (if there is one)
  5. The full names and home addresses of the people who run the company
  6. The company’s official address and where to send mail to them

To see these records, you need to write a note to the company saying you want to look at them. The company has to show you the records in a special way that’s explained in section 217.

If a company doesn’t let you see these records when you ask:

  • The company is breaking the law and can get in trouble
  • The people who run the company can also get in trouble

The punishments for not showing these records are explained in other parts of the law: section 373(2) for the company and section 374(2) for the people who run it.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM321136.

Topics:
Business > Industry rules
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Part 12 Disclosure by companies
Inspection of company records

215Public inspection of company records

  1. A company must keep the following records available for inspection in the manner prescribed in section 217 by a person who serves written notice of intention to inspect on the company:

  2. the certificate of incorporation or registration of the company:
    1. the constitution of the company, if it has one:
      1. the share register:
        1. the company's ultimate holding company information:
          1. the full names and residential addresses of the directors:
            1. the registered office and address for service of the company.

              1. If a company fails to comply with subsection (1),—

              2. the company commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalty set out in section 373(2); and
                1. every director of the company commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalty set out in section 374(2).

                  Notes
                  • Section 215(1)(ca): inserted, on , by section 14 of the Companies Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 46).