Thousands of incorporated societies risk deregistration if they miss the Easter Sunday deadline

13 March 2026

With less than a month to go before a crucial deadline, Charities Services is warning that 1,913 charities are at risk of de registration if they fail to reregister under the new Incorporated Societies Act (or take other action) by 5 April 2026 (Easter Sunday).

Registered charities that are also incorporated societies should make sure they have re-registered with the Companies Office (or taken other action) and afterwards updated their information with Charities Services).

If a charity which is an incorporated society doesn’t reregister (or take other action) with the Companies Office by Easter Sunday then Charities Services will be obliged to take steps to deregister them as a charity too.

Charities Services has been working with the Companies Office and Inland Revenue to alert society members, and remind them of the need to reregister, but there are still a large number of groups – like community clubs, cultural groups and religious organisations - which haven’t yet reregistered.

If you’re a member of an incorporated society that is a charity we recommend you check the Incorporated Societies Register now to see if your charity has reregistered a new constitution under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 (it only takes a few minutes to check). If you haven’t completed reregistration they have advice on what to do – and you need to get cracking as time is running out and there are steps you need to take (like holding a General Meeting to agree a new constitution) before you can reregister.

Once you’ve reregistered with the Companies Office it’s easy to submit your updated information to Charities Services -https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/Search

Failing to reregister as an Incorporated Society would mean a society

• ceases to exist as an Incorporate Society
• loses its IRD number.

It may also affect the

• ability to operate its bank accounts
• tax required to be paid
• the tax deductibility of donations
• contracts and funding agreements
• individual members’ liability.

ENDS

Notes for editors:
Easter Sunday (5 April 2025) marks 4 years since the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 received the Royal Assent, and is the day when the old Incorporated Societies Act 1908 is repealed.

All incorporated societies must re-register with the Companies Office part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which administers the Incorporated Societies Register (or take other action e.g. changing to a different legal structure or winding up.)

After re-registering, charities must also update their details with Charities Services within 3 months of the change.

The Charities Register is easy to search here: https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/Search
The Incorporated Societies Register and information can be found here: Home | Incorporated Societies

See also MBIE’s advice on that page
You must reregister under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 before 5 April 2026 (Easter Sunday). If you don’t, you will not be able to continue operating as an incorporated society.
To reregister you will need to:

1. Prepare a constitution and review your society’s operational processes.
2. Hold a general meeting to approve the new constitution and the decision to reregister.
3. Apply to reregister and upload your constitution online on our website.

Preparing a constitution and reviewing processes may take time. We recommend you start this process soon and complete all 3 steps before the end of March 2026.