Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006

New Zealand Society of Conveyancers - Powers

83: Fit and proper person

You could also call this:

"What makes someone suitable to be a conveyancer?"

Illustration for Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006

When you apply to be a conveyancer, people will check if you are a fit and proper person. They will look at things like whether you are of good character. They will also check if you have been bankrupt or convicted of an offence. They will consider things like the nature of the offence and how long ago it happened. They will also think about your age when the offence happened. You might not be considered a fit and proper person if you have provided conveyancing services without being registered. The people checking your application can look at other things too, like if you have been subject to disciplinary action. They can also check if you have contravened laws about trust money or trust accounts. You might still be considered a fit and proper person even if some of these things apply to you. The rules about what makes someone a fit and proper person do not limit other grounds for saying someone is not suitable. These rules also do not limit the qualifications or experience you need to be a conveyancer, which can be found in rules made under section 82(2)(a). You can still be considered a fit and proper person even if some things do not go in your favour.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM366109.

This page was last updated on 4 January 2026 — View changes

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82: Rules for registration of conveyancers, or

"How to become a registered conveyancer in New Zealand"

84: Rules relating to education, or

"Rules about what you need to learn to become a conveyancer"

Part 5New Zealand Society of Conveyancers
Powers

83Fit and proper person

For the purpose of determining whether or not a person is a fit and proper person to be granted registration as a conveyancer, the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers or any other body that is required to consider an application for the grant of registration as a conveyancer may take into account any matters it considers relevant and, in particular, may take into account any of the following matters:
whether the person is of good character:
whether the person has, at any time, been declared bankrupt or been a director of a company that has been put into receivership or liquidation:
whether the person has been convicted of an offence in New Zealand or a foreign country; and, if so,—
1. the nature of the offence; and
2. the time that has elapsed since the offence was committed; and
3. the person's age when the offence was committed:
whether the person has provided conveyancing services in New Zealand when not registered under this Act or a corresponding law, or not holding an appropriate New Zealand practising certificate, as required by law:
whether the person has provided conveyancing services in a foreign country—
1. when not permitted by or under the law of that country to do so; or
2. if permitted to do so, in contravention of a condition of the permission:
whether the person is subject to—
1. an unresolved complaint under a corresponding foreign law; or
2. a current investigation, charge, or order by a regulatory or disciplinary body for persons engaging in legal practice under a corresponding foreign law:
whether the person—
1. is a subject of current disciplinary action in another profession or occupation in New Zealand or a foreign country; or
2. has been the subject of disciplinary action of that kind that has involved a finding of guilty, however expressed:
whether the person's name has been removed from a foreign register, and that person's name has not been restored:
whether the person's right to provide conveyancing services has been cancelled or suspended in a foreign country:
whether the person has contravened, in New Zealand or a foreign country, a law about trust money or a trust account:
whether the person is subject to an order under this Act or a corresponding law disqualifying the person from being employed by, or a partner of, a conveyancing practitioner or an incorporated conveyancing firm:
whether, because of a mental or physical condition, the person is unable to perform the functions required for the provision of conveyancing services.

The New Zealand Society of Conveyancers, or any other person who is required to consider an application for the grant of registration as a conveyancer, may determine that a person is a fit and proper person to be granted registration as a conveyancer even though the person is within any of the categories mentioned in any of the paragraphs of subsection (1).
Subsection (1) does not limit—
the grounds on which it may be determined that a person is not a fit and proper person to be granted registration as a conveyancer; or
the grounds on which it may be determined that a person does not have the qualifications or experience required for registration as a conveyancer; or
the criteria that may be prescribed by rules made under section 82(2)(a).