What the statuses mean
- Registered — the society exists and has met its obligations under the 2022 Act.
- Removed — it has been struck off and is no longer a legal entity. Restoration is possible until 6 April 2032.
- Dissolved — the society has been wound up, which is a different process from removal.
- External Administration — it is in liquidation or under other formal administration.
How to search it properly
Search by society number or NZBN if you have either, because names are recorded in a formal legal form that often differs from the name people use. A club everyone calls "the Ashburton bowlers" may be registered as something considerably longer.
Why your society might not appear where you expect
The register matches on current name, previous name or NZBN. A society that changed its name is findable under both, which is also why counting search results by letter overstates the true number of entries.
Common questions
Is the register free to search?
Yes. It is a public register and searching it costs nothing.
Does removal show permanently?
The removed entry remains publicly visible, which is why a struck-off society is still findable by name years later.
Societies this applies to
Real entries from the register, all removed without ever reregistering: