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Companies Act 1993

Summary of changes

These summaries explain recent changes to the law. They are generated by AI comparing versions of the legislation, so they might oversimplify, miss details, or get things wrong. Learn more about how we track these changes.

20 May 2025

  • Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules
  • The maximum priority amount for employee claims in preferential claims was increased
  • An update was made to a provision to reflect a change in the referenced Act
  • A new list of classes of persons that may be subject to a levy was added to Schedule 15
  • Empowering provision references were added to the titles of several schedules

Affected provisions

  1. 1AA: Transitional, savings, and related provisions
    Empowering provision references were added to the titles of several schedules
  2. 2: Sections of this Act that confer powers on directors that cannot be delegated
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules
  3. 3: Proceedings of the board of a company
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules; Empowering provision references were added to the titles of several schedules
  4. 4: Information to be contained in annual return
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules
  5. 5: Proceedings at meetings of creditors
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules
  6. 6: Powers of liquidators
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules; Empowering provision references were added to the titles of several schedules
  7. 7: Preferential claims
    The maximum priority amount for employee claims in preferential claims was increased
  8. 8: Proceedings at meetings of liquidation committees
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules; Empowering provision references were added to the titles of several schedules
  9. 10: Interest class: principles
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules; Empowering provision references were added to the titles of several schedules
  10. 11: Liquidation of associations
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules; Empowering provision references were added to the titles of several schedules
  11. 12: Safe harbour provisions relating to outbreak of COVID-19
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules; Empowering provision references were added to the titles of several schedules
  12. 13: COVID-19 business debt hibernation
    Minor formatting changes and addition of empowering provision references were made to various schedules; Empowering provision references were added to the titles of several schedules
  13. 15: Registered persons that may be subject to levy
    A new list of classes of persons that may be subject to a levy was added to Schedule 15
  14. 398: Act subject to application of Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol
    An update was made to a provision to reflect a change in the referenced Act

24 May 2025

  • The provision related to information for shareholders who elect not to receive annual reports has been updated to reflect its repealed status

Affected provisions

  1. 210: Information for shareholders who elect not to receive annual report
    The provision related to information for shareholders who elect not to receive annual reports has been updated to reflect its repealed status

15 July 2025

  • Repeal of provisions related to annual reports and financial statements for certain companies
  • Amendment to orders to enforce liquidator's duties to include the Reserve Bank of New Zealand

Affected provisions

  1. 210: Information for shareholders who elect not to receive annual report
    Repeal of provisions related to annual reports and financial statements for certain companies
  2. 211A: Obligations to prepare and make available annual reports or financial statements do not apply to non-active companies
    Repeal of provisions related to annual reports and financial statements for certain companies
  3. 286: Orders to enforce liquidator's duties
    Amendment to orders to enforce liquidator's duties to include the Reserve Bank of New Zealand

9 September 2025

  • Repeal of provisions related to annual reports and company obligations
  • Repeal of provisions related to company administration and misconduct reporting
  • Repeal of transitional provisions related to voidable transactions
  • Repeal of COVID-19 related provisions providing safe harbour for directors and business debt hibernation

Affected provisions

  1. 138B: Safe harbour for directors relating to effects of COVID-19
    Repeal of COVID-19 related provisions providing safe harbour for directors and business debt hibernation
  2. 210: Information for shareholders who elect not to receive annual report
    Repeal of provisions related to annual reports and company obligations
  3. 211A: Obligations to prepare and make available annual reports or financial statements do not apply to non-active companies
    Repeal of provisions related to annual reports and company obligations
  4. 239AI: Administrator must report misconduct
    Repeal of provisions related to company administration and misconduct reporting
  5. 258B: Registrar may supply report to FMA
    Repeal of provisions related to company administration and misconduct reporting
  6. 316A: Transitional provision in relation to voidable transactions
    Repeal of transitional provisions related to voidable transactions
  7. 361: Registrar may direct transfer
    Repeal of provisions related to company administration and misconduct reporting
  8. 395A: COVID-19 business debt hibernation
    Repeal of COVID-19 related provisions providing safe harbour for directors and business debt hibernation
  9. 395B: Regulations relating to COVID-19 business debt hibernation
    Repeal of COVID-19 related provisions providing safe harbour for directors and business debt hibernation