Search registry entities

    New Zealand registry entity search

    Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.

    Search Company Records in New Zealand

    3 free lookups per day. No sign-up required.

    Reviewed by LemReveal Research TeamLast verified June 2026Primary source: NZBN

    How do I find the right registered entity in New Zealand?

    A registry entity search in New Zealand identifies which specific legal entity you are dealing with when a name is shared across several. NZBN distinguishes them by registration number, entity type (Limited Company (Ltd), Look-Through Company (LTC), Limited Partnership (LP)) and registered address.

    Step-by-step

    1. 1

      Search the name and expect several hits

      Groups commonly register holding, trading and dormant entities under near-identical names. The first result is not necessarily the one you are dealing with.

    2. 2

      Disambiguate by registration number

      The registration number is unique. If a counterparty cannot give you theirs, that is itself informative.

    3. 3

      Compare entity type and address

      Where the number is unavailable, entity type (Limited Company (Ltd), Look-Through Company (LTC), Limited Partnership (LP)) and registered address usually separate the candidates.

    4. 4

      Record which entity you chose

      Contracts are with an entity, not a brand. Note the registration number you verified so later checks look at the same record.

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    Frequently asked questions

    Why do several New Zealand entities share the same name?

    Groups register separate legal entities — holding, operating, dormant — under closely related names. NZBN treats each as a distinct entity with its own registration number.

    How do I tell which entity I am contracting with?

    By registration number. Ask the counterparty for it, then confirm that exact number on NZBN. Name alone is not sufficient.

    Is entity search on NZBN free?

    Yes — search and the public entity record are free and need no account.

    Does the biggest entity in the results matter most?

    No. What matters is the entity named on your contract or invoice. A dormant shell and a trading company in the same group look similar in a name search and carry very different risk.

    What is an NZBN?

    The New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) is a unique 13-digit identifier assigned to every business entity in NZ. It's designed to simplify business-to-business and business-to-government interactions by providing a single number for identification.

    People also ask about find the right registered entity in New Zealand

    The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.

    Is the New Zealand company register free to search?

    Yes. Basic company lookups on the Companies Office / NZBN are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.

    What is the official New Zealand business registry?

    The Companies Office / NZBN is the official public register of companies incorporated in New Zealand. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz.

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