Submission received
Your information has been recorded by WONE.
New Zealand × Corporate & Entity Services
Corporate & Entity Services in New Zealand
Setting up companies abroad, and keeping them in good standing. In New Zealand, that means local law, local regulators and local practice, handled by a qualified professional who practises there.
Who handles this work
On request
WONE Global can find the right Corporate & Entity Services professional in New Zealand for you.
No WONE Global Partner holds this yet. Send us your requirement: WONE Global confirms whether a vetted Associate firm can act, tells you who it is and checks for conflicts before any work begins.
Bring a requirement →New Zealand at a glanceAustralia & New Zealand
Auckland · Wednesday 4 November
09:01
Local time
- Currency
- NZD
- Working week
- Monday – Friday
- Dialling code
- +64
- Region
- Australia & New Zealand
What the rules say in New Zealand
Corporate & Entity Services, the essentials
From the New Zealand market guide: the points that matter most for corporate & entity services, each with the source it was checked against.
Essentials guide · Source-checked research55% of statements checked against a source19 checked against an official source13 checked against a secondary sourceChecked 2026-10-199 held back until checked against an official source8 topics include AI-written statements, not source-checkedNot yet professionally reviewed
The limited liability company under the Companies Act 1993 is the most commonly used business structure in New Zealand, including for foreign-owned businesses, and has no minimum capital requirement.
A company needs at least one director, one shareholder and one share, and at least one director living in New Zealand or in Australia (if also a director of an Australian company).PwC New Zealand · checked 2026-10-19A New Zealand company must have at least one director who lives in New Zealand, or who lives in Australia and is a director of a company incorporated in Australia.
The Registrar generally treats more than 183 days in New Zealand in a 12-month period as living in New Zealand; an Australia-resident director must give the Australian Company Number of the Australian company. Under-18s, undischarged bankrupts and banned persons cannot be directors.New Zealand Companies Office (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) · checked 2026-10-19An overseas company that carries on business in New Zealand must register on the Companies Office Overseas Register within 10 working days of starting business activities in New Zealand.
Companies Act 1993, Part 18. Holding a bank account, settling a legal dispute or a one-off transaction completed within a month does not by itself count as carrying on business. Registration does not create a separate New Zealand legal entity.New Zealand Companies Office (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) · checked 2026-10-19Overseas persons need consent from the Overseas Investment Office under the Overseas Investment Act 2005 to acquire interests in sensitive land, significant business assets or fishing quota.
Significant business assets generally means acquiring an interest of 25% or more in an entity, or business assets, valued at or bought for more than NZD 100 million, or establishing a business costing more than that; lower or higher thresholds apply to some investors and sectors. Consent decisions are made by ministers or by the Overseas Investment Office under delegation.Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (Overseas Investment Office) · checked 2026-10-19A company receives a New Zealand company number and a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) on incorporation, and can apply for an IRD number and GST registration at the same time or later.
LegalVision (via Mondaq) · checked 2026-10-19Company directors owe statutory duties under the Companies Act 1993, including to act in good faith and in the best interests of the company and not to trade recklessly.
AI-written, not source-checked
Read the full guide: Entry, investment and company formation
Scope
What the service covers here
- 01Choose the appropriate legal presence
- 02Form or register the required entity
- 03Put governance and statutory records in place
- 04Maintain ongoing corporate compliance
Key questions
What we will work through with you
- What needs to be decided before corporate & entity services work starts?
- Who is professionally responsible in each country?
- Which other work, such as tax or employment, must happen at the same time?
- What information and decisions are needed from the business?
If your work involves another country or another area of expertise, WONE Global brings in the right professional and keeps all advisers informed.
Also in New Zealand
Other services in this market
Appointed services show their named professional. Open positions link directly to the Expression of Interest form.
Legal & ContractingOpen position · Expression of Interest →Tax & International StructuringOpen position · Expression of Interest →Government & Regulatory AffairsOpen position · Expression of Interest →Employment, Payroll & MobilityOpen position · Expression of Interest →Commercial Intelligence & Market ResearchOpen position · Expression of Interest →Accounting, Reporting & Statutory ComplianceOpen position · Expression of Interest →Audit & AssuranceOpen position · Expression of Interest →Finance & TreasuryOpen position · Expression of Interest →Banking & Capital AccessOpen position · Expression of Interest →Payments, Foreign Exchange & SettlementOpen position · Expression of Interest →Insurance & Risk TransferOpen position · Expression of Interest →Transactions & DealsOpen position · Expression of Interest →Trade, Customs & Supply ChainOpen position · Expression of Interest →Technology, Data & CyberOpen position · Expression of Interest →Intellectual Property & Brand ProtectionOpen position · Expression of Interest →Risk, Compliance & Financial IntegrityOpen position · Expression of Interest →Disputes & ResolutionOpen position · Expression of Interest →
Cases
What clients bring to Corporate & Entity Services
The cases this service leads or joins, each with what is at stake, how WONE Global handles it and who handles it in New Zealand.
Urgent Our local manager abroad has taken control of the subsidiary. What can we do?Corporate ownership & governanceUrgent Our company abroad has been struck off. How do we fix it?Corporate ownership & governanceUrgent A foreign authority wants our documents apostilled or legalised. How?Market entry, licensing & government engagementUrgent Investors want our company moved to Delaware or Singapore before they invest.Corporate ownership & governanceShould we open a branch, a subsidiary or just use a distributor abroad?Market entry, licensing & government engagementHow do we set up a company in another country, and how long will it take?Market entry, licensing & government engagementCan we just open a branch or representative office instead of a full company?Market entry, licensing & government engagementWhat must be in place before our new office abroad starts trading?Market entry, licensing & government engagementHow do we keep our foreign company compliant with the registry every year?Corporate ownership & governanceHow do we change directors or shareholders of our company abroad?Corporate ownership & governance
WONE Global Intelligence
Ask about corporate & entity services in New Zealand
Ask in your own words. Answers come from WONE Global's checked records, with every source shown, and end with the named Partner who can act. Go deeper on any point, or build a decision file.
Contact WONE Global