BNZ Takes Proactive Step To Help Incorporated Societies Meet Reregistration Deadline

BNZ is introducing a temporary account block for some incorporated society customers as part of a final push to help them meet an important legal deadline under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.

Incorporated societies include a wide range of community and membership-based organisations, such as associations, interest groups, churches, early childhood centres, sports organisations and clubs, and many other charitable and not-for-profit groups.

Under the Act, all incorporated societies must reregister with the New Zealand Companies Office by 5 April 2026. Societies that miss the deadline will cease to exist under the law. As a result, unregistered societies will no longer be able to access their bank accounts, make payments, or receive grants/funding, and will need to reapply for an IRD number

BNZ Senior Partner Not for Profit Rachel Woodhouse says many organisations may not realise the consequences of missing the deadline.

“BNZ has been proactively contacting its incorporated society customers to explain the changes and encourage reregistration as we want to help them get this right.”

“While this approach has been largely successful, there are a number of customers who have still not engaged, and that puts them at risk.”

With less than a month to go, BNZ has decided to place a temporary account block on incorporated societies it has not heard from. The block has been put in place from today – 11 March 2026.

“This is a proactive step to prompt action,” Ms Woodhouse says.

“Incorporatedsocieties are, in many cases, runby volunteers where officersfrequentlychange or theymay even beunaware that they are an incorporated society.

“The temporary block is designed to encourage customers to get in touch so we can talk to them about the steps they need to take to reregister before the deadline.”

Prior to the 5 April deadline, the temporary block can be removed immediately once customers make contact. From 6 April 2026, incorporated societies that have not reregistered will no longer be able to access their accounts until they have met their legal obligations.

Ms Woodhouse acknowledges the approach may cause some short-term inconvenience, but she believes that’s far preferable to the serious consequences of an organisation losing legal status altogether.

It’s also important to note that organisations that no longer want to be an incorporated society should deregister before 5 April 2026.

“Our focus is on helping community organisations stay compliant and keep operating,” Ms Woodhouse says.

“If you haven’t reregistered yet, now is the time to act.”

For more information on reregistering, incorporated societies should visit the New Zealand Companies Office website.

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