Business Services Branch
[ Last Updated 26 October 2006 ]
Deputy Secretary: Neville Harris
The Business Services branch (BSB) consists of specialised units that focus on providing online and other services to New Zealand businesses. The business units have an operational rather than a policy focus. Please visit their websites for more comprehensive information and access to online services.
Companies Office
The Companies Office provides business registry services in relation to corporate and non-corporate entities, personal property and capital market securities. It delivers the majority of its services through electronic systems and the internet. The Office administers 17 registers encompassing companies, personal property securities, superannuation funds, incorporated societies, building societies, charitable trusts, unit trusts, friendly societies and credit unions. The office also has compliance, prosecution and enforcement functions under the Companies Act 1993, Securities Act 1978, Corporations (Investigation and Management) Act 1989, Financial Reporting Act 1993 and the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982. The Companies Office also manages the Motor Vehicle Traders Register [link to MVTR website] and the Personal Properties Securities Register [link to PPSR website]. It will manage the Retirement Villages Register and the Climate Change Register when these become operational.
Access the Companies Office [link to Companies Office website] database to search the register, incorporate a company online or file various documents online.
Crown Minerals
This group manages the Crown's petroleum and mineral resources, comprising all inground petroleum, gold and silver and approximately half of the coal and other minerals. It provides three principal services: the allocation of interests in the Crown mineral estate and monitoring ongoing regulatory compliance; promoting international investment in exploration and production; and providing policy advice on matters affecting the Crown’s interest in petroleum and minerals.
Crown Minerals has developed strategies to encourage investment in the mineral estate and intends to adapt these over the next four years.
Visit the Crown Minerals website for more information.
Insolvency and Trustee Service
The Insolvency and Trustee Service (ITS) is, through the statutory office of the Official Assignee, a key agent in the administration of the New Zealand insolvency system. ITS has two primary responsibilities:
- To administer all personal bankruptcies and those company liquidations where appointed by creditors.
- To manage and dispose of property that is restrained or forfeited under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1991.
The ITS also provides a prosecution and enforcement function under the Insolvency Act 1967.
The Insolvency and Trustee Service website provides information on personal bankruptcies and company liquidations where the Official Assignee has been appointed to administer the estate.
Insurance and Superannuation Unit (ISU)
This group ensures that superannuation and insurance markets comply with their respective responsibilities under the following legislation:
- Life Insurance Act 1908
- Insurance Companies Deposits Act 1953
- Insurance (Ratings & Inspections) Act 1994
- Superannuation Schemes Act 1989
- Accident Insurance Act 1998.
The Government Actuary is the Regulator of the Superannuation Schemes Act 1989. The ISU provides the Government Actuary with administration services and deals where appropriate with complaints made by members of registered superannuation schemes. The Government Actuary is also the Actuary to the Government Superannuation Fund.
The ISU also examines trust deed amendments and trustee annual reports lodged with the Government Actuary under the Superannuation Schemes Act 1989, and is responsible for the registration of new Superannuation Schemes.
Returns lodged under the Life Insurance Act 1908 and Insurance Companies Deposits Act 1953 are reviewed for compliance by ISU staff, who also manage the Insurance (Ratings & Inspections) Act 1994 and produce a quarterly Insurance Ratings Schedule, which can be accessed at the ISU website.
Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ)
This office manages the regulatory framework for intellectual property in New Zealand. Through the Commissioner of Patents it grants patents under the Patents Act 1953 and registers trade marks and designs under the Trade Marks Act 2002 and the Designs Act 1953 and grants plant variety rights under the Plant Variety Rights Act 1987. The office will maintain the register of geographical indications when the Geographical Indications Act 1994 has been enacted, and acts as a Receiving Office for the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
Access to the patent, trade mark and design database is at the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand website where you can obtain general information on intellectual property rights, search the database for existing patents, trade marks and designs, file applications or renewals online, and access the relevant application forms.
IPONZ includes the Plant Variety Rights Office, which manages the granting of plant variety rights. These give exclusive rights of commercialisation over eligible new plant varieties for a prescribed number of years. The office also provides policy advice on meeting the intellectual property rights and needs of plant breeders.
Visit the Plant Variety Office website to search the plant variety rights database, obtain general information about plant variety rights and access the relevant application forms.
Radio Spectrum Management Group
This group administers the Radiocommunications Act 1989 and associated Radiocommunications Regulations. The Act provides for both the granting of licences and a spectrum property rights regime. The group also acts as band manager of the Crown-owned spectrum property rights.
Additional activities include licensing, interference investigation, and compliance management of the radio frequency spectrum, radio frequency allocation, and registration of radio spectrum rights.
Visit the Radio Spectrum Management website for more information.
Energy Safety
The Energy Safety team administers and enforces the safety, supply quality and measurement requirements of the Electricity Act 1992 and associated regulations, and the Gas Act 1992 and associated regulations. It also administers the supply quality requirements of the Petroleum Products Specifications Regulations 1998 (relating to petrol and diesel fuels). In particular the team:
- works with industry to promote and, where necessary, enforce high safety and quality standards in electricity and gas networks, installation systems and products (including petrol and diesel quality); and
- provides information, education and advice on energy safety issues for consumers and businesses.
Visit the Energy Safety website for more information.
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