Duplicate filing obligations for companies carrying on business in New Zealand and Australia

The New Zealand and Australian governments have enacted legislation to remove duplicate filing obligations for companies carrying on business in both New Zealand and Australia.

The amendments, which came into force on 1 September 2007, mean that both the New Zealand Companies Office and the Australian Securities & Investments Commission can now receive information relating to companies operating on both sides of the Tasman and through a data exchange. This will reduce the cost and time of doing business.

The New Zealand Companies Office now also offers an online service to enable Australian incorporated companies intending to carry on business in New Zealand to register as an overseas company in New Zealand. This service is easier, quicker and more cost-effective than the manual process. This service can be accessed via the form the company option at www.companies.govt.nz.

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