Setting up your online services account

How to make use of our online services

To register or maintain your incorporated society online, you’ll need to have an online services account with the Companies Office. It's free to set up, but fees apply when completing some transactions. There are 2 steps to setting up an account — ensuring you have a RealMe® login, and choosing the type of account you need.

1. Ensure you have a RealMe® login

To create an online services account you must first have a RealMe username and password.

What is RealMe? RealMe® website

If you already have an account with the Companies Office

You may already have an online services account with us, in which case, when you log in with your RealMe details, you’ll be taken immediately to the online dashboard, where you can register or maintain an incorporated society. If this applies to you, go directly to ‘confirming your authority to manage information’.

If you already have a RealMe login for other services

If you have a RealMe username and password you've used elsewhere (for example, to renew your passport) click the 'Login' button at the top of the page. You can then set up your online services account with us, starting with choosing the type of account you need.

If you don’t have a RealMe login

If you don’t have a RealMe login, you will need to create one by doing the following:

  1. Select the 'Create' link at the top of this page.
  2. Select 'Create a RealMe login' and follow the instructions to create a username and password.

2. Choose the type of account

When you log in to the register with RealMe for the first time, you’ll be asked what type of online services account you would like to set up, or if you would like to join an existing organisation account.

There are two types of online services account: an individual account, and an organisation account.

  • Select ‘I want to set up an individual account’ if you’ll be the only one using the account to manage the society's information.
  • Select 'I want to set up an organisation account' to become the administrator of a new organisation account, where there'll be a number of people accessing the register on behalf of your society.
  • Select 'I have an activation code' if you have received an invitation email (with an activation code) to join an organisation account as a user.

I want to set up an individual account

Choose this option if you’re an individual acting on behalf of an society. This type of account would typically suit a treasurer, secretary or trustee with sole responsibility for filing documents with us.

Please note that your name will be given as the document presenter on public register filings, along with your postal address. If this poses a problem, you may wish to consider using a registered office address or box number when setting up your account.

To set up an individual account:

  1. Enter your user details.
  2. Agree to the terms and conditions.
  3. Click ‘Create Individual Account’.

I want to set up an organisation account

Choose this option if you're creating an online services account on behalf of an organisation.

This type of account would typically suit a business professional, such as an accountant or lawyer, or an organisation where there are multiple users who need to file documents with us.

In setting up the organisation account, you become the account administrator, and can add or remove other account users and edit their details. You can also appoint another user to be an account administrator.

The organisation's general information and payment options apply to each user associated with your organisation.

The organisation will be shown as the document presenter on public register filings, along with the organisation name and postal address.

To set up an organisation account:

  1. Enter your individual user details, and agree to the terms and conditions.
  2. Select 'Next Step: Create Organisation Account'.
  3. Enter your organisation and contact details, i.e. physical address etc.
  4. Enter your own contact details with the organisation.
  5. Click 'Create Organisation Account'.

Updating your account details

I have an activation code

Choose this option if you've received an email containing an activation code. This means an administrator of an existing organisation account has begun the process of creating a user account for you.

To activate your account as a new user:

  1. Enter your activation code and click 'Continue'.
  2. Complete all mandatory fields, if not already pre-populated.
  3. Agree to the terms and conditions.
  4. Click 'Create Individual Account'.

Next step — Confirm your authority to manage information

Before you can use your online services account to manage a society’s information on the register, you’ll need to confirm that you have the authority to do so. If you use your account to incorporate a new society, you will have your authority confirmed automatically. To manage information on the register for an existing society you must confirm to us that you have been authorised to access and update the society’s details.

Confirming your authority to manage information

A printable PDF guide ‘Getting started on the Incorporated Societies Register’ is available. You may wish to have this handy when setting up your online services account.

Getting started on the Incorporated Societies Register PDF, 937 KB

All help topics

Getting started on the register 6 guides

Find out about incorporated societies and the Incorporated Societies Register, and what's needed to register and maintain an incorporated society in New Zealand.

Searching the Incorporated Societies Register 2 guides

Find out how to search our registers for information about incorporated societies, and other business entities

Starting an incorporated society 3 guides

To incorporate a society in New Zealand you must submit an application, along with the required documents, and pay a registration fee.

Running your incorporated society 6 guides

Once you've registered your incorporated society, you'll need to maintain it by keeping your details up to date, filing annual financial statements, and meeting your other legal obligations.

Keeping society details up to date 6 guides

Once you've registered your incorporated society, you'll need to file annual financial statements and update other society details when they change.

Ending an incorporated society 2 guides

When an incorporated society reaches the end of its 'life', it must be wound up and removed from the register. There are two ways this can be done – by dissolving the society, or having it liquidated.

Restoring an incorporated society to the register 2 guides

An application can be made to us to have an incorporated society restored to the register, by the society itself, or by a creditor. You'll need to provide evidence to support your application.

Forms and fees 3 guides

Forms you'll need to register your incorporated society and keep it up to date, along with a schedule of fees payable.

Managing your online account 6 guides

Your online services account allows you to update and manage personal and organisation account details from your online dashboard.