Information Session: Changes to Incorporated Societies Act

Trust Tairāwhiti and the Tairāwhiti Community Law Centre are hosting free info sessions across the region to help you understand the updates to the Incorporated Societies Act, and what your group needs to do to stay compliant.

The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 is a New Zealand law that governs incorporated societies, a type of non-profit organisation.

It replaced the 1908 Act and requires societies to re-register with the Registrar by April 2026 to remain incorporated. The new law strengthens governance by introducing updated duties for officers, requirements for a constitution and a minimum committee size of three members.

Learn about

• The key requirements your group needs to meet under the new Act
• Your obligations as an officer or committee member
• The process for re-registering your society and updating your constitution

Suitable for

• Sports teams
• Social clubs
• Community and cultural groups
• Charitable organisations

What’s changed

• The 2022 Act was given Royal Assent on 5 April 2022.
• It came into force on 5 October 2023. 
• The previous law, the Incorporated Societies Act 1908, remains in effect for societies that have not yet reregistered under the new Act — until the transition deadline.
• The critical deadline: societies operating under the old Act must reregister under the 2022 Act by 5 April 2026. If not, they risk ceasing to be a valid incorporated society.

Which Act applies to your society?

• If you were registered for the first time on or after 5 October 2023 → your society is already under the 2022 Act.
• If you were registered before 5 October 2023 and haven’t reregistered yet → you are still under the 1908 Act and need to transition by 5 April 2026.