--- title: Legal Update - Companies Act Reforms description: "Legal Update: Andrew Bayly announces reforms to the Companies Act 1993 to modernize company law in NZ. Directors' residential addresses no longer required. Stay informed!" image: https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/Legal%20Update%20(2).png --- [![dark-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/dark-logo.png) ![top-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/top-logo.png) ![dark-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/dark-logo.png) ![top-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/top-logo.png) ![dark-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/dark-logo.png)](https://moranlaw.co) - Our Services - [Intellectual Property](https://moranlaw.co/protecting-intellectual-property) - [Commercial and Corporate](https://moranlaw.co/commercial-and-corporate) - [For Families](https://moranlaw.co/for-families) - [Elevated Trust Management](https://moranlaw.co/elevated-trust-management) - [Not-For-Profit](https://moranlaw.co/not-for-profits) - [Privacy, Cyber, and Data Security](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-cyber-and-data-security) - [Our Team](https://moranlaw.co/moranlaw-team) - [About Us](https://moranlaw.co/about) - [Careers](https://moranlaw.co/careers) - [Blog](https://moranlaw.co/blog) [Contact us](https://moranlaw.co/contact) - Our Services - [Intellectual Property](https://moranlaw.co/protecting-intellectual-property) - [Commercial and Corporate](https://moranlaw.co/commercial-and-corporate) - [For Families](https://moranlaw.co/for-families) - [Elevated Trust Management](https://moranlaw.co/elevated-trust-management) - [Not-For-Profit](https://moranlaw.co/not-for-profits) - [Privacy, Cyber, and Data Security](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-cyber-and-data-security) - [Our Team](https://moranlaw.co/moranlaw-team) - [About Us](https://moranlaw.co/about) - [Careers](https://moranlaw.co/careers) - [Blog](https://moranlaw.co/blog) [Contact us](https://moranlaw.co/contact) - Our Services - [Intellectual Property](https://moranlaw.co/protecting-intellectual-property) - [Commercial and Corporate](https://moranlaw.co/commercial-and-corporate) - [For Families](https://moranlaw.co/for-families) - [Elevated Trust Management](https://moranlaw.co/elevated-trust-management) - [Not-For-Profit](https://moranlaw.co/not-for-profits) - [Privacy, Cyber, and Data Security](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-cyber-and-data-security) - [Our Team](https://moranlaw.co/moranlaw-team) - [About Us](https://moranlaw.co/about) - [Careers](https://moranlaw.co/careers) - [Blog](https://moranlaw.co/blog) ##### WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND Level 1, 40 Lady Elizabeth Lane Wellington 6011 Postal: PO Box 10538 Wellington 6140 Phone: +64 4 830 2430 Email: [wellington@moranlaw.co](mailto:wellington@moranlaw.co) ##### AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Suite 502, Level 5, Achilles House 8 Commerce Street Auckland 1010 Phone: +64 4 830 2430 Email: [team@moranlaw.co](mailto:team@moranlaw.co) ##### SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Level 26, 44 Market Street  Sydney, NSW, 2000 Phone: +61 2 9091 4258 Email: [sydney@moranlaw.co](mailto:sydney@moranlaw.co) ![](https://moranlaw.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Legal%20Update%20(2).png?width=1280&name=Legal%20Update%20(2).png) # Legal Update - Companies Act Reforms ![MoranLaw Team](https://moranlaw.co/hs-fs/hubfs/ML%20thumbnail.jpg?width=80&name=ML%20thumbnail.jpg) [MoranLaw Team](https://moranlaw.co/blog/author/moranlaw-team) September 3, 2024, 12:21:36 PM NZST ![image002 (3)](https://moranlaw.co/hs-fs/hubfs/image002%20(3).png?width=314&height=257&name=image002%20(3).png) The Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs recently announced "a raft of reforms" to the Companies Act 1993. The reforms are intended to "modernise and simplify" company law in New Zealand. The Companies Act 1993 is an essential piece of legislation that impacts almost all those doing business in New Zealand. However, the Act has not been updated in over 30 years. Company directors will be particularly pleased to hear the requirement to display their home addresses on the Companies Register is likely to be removed. Some of the other changes on the horizon include: \- Removing the requirement that specific practices (like share buybacks) must be explicitly permitted in a company's constitution. \- Removal of requirements to mail certain information out to shareholders or physically publish information in the newspaper. \- Enhanced provisions relating to "phoenixing," to facilitate a fairer landscape for creditors. \- Introducing ‘unique identification numbers' for directors (like a personal NZBN) to foster transparency, so that directors' links to other companies are identifiable. What's more - the Minister has signaled that there will be a second phase of reforms, which will include a review of directors' duties in the context [#Mainzeal](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=mainzeal&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7231541126652997633). I am really pleased to see this announcement and I will be watching with eager eyes to see how Ministers Bayly and Goldsmith can modernise and simplify company law and administration in New Zealand. Share on: [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://moranlaw.co/blog/legal-update-companies-act-reforms) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://moranlaw.co/blog/legal-update-companies-act-reforms) Tags: [Corporate and Commercial](https://moranlaw.co/blog/tag/corporate-and-commercial) You may also like ![](https://moranlaw.co/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/A%20series%20of%20buildings%20and%20sky%20scrapers%20in%20a%20navy%20blue%20against%20a%20pale%20blue%20background-1.jpeg?width=630&name=A%20series%20of%20buildings%20and%20sky%20scrapers%20in%20a%20navy%20blue%20against%20a%20pale%20blue%20background-1.jpeg) May 5, 2025, 3:27:18 PM NZST Should my Company Have a Constitution? ![](https://moranlaw.co/hs-fs/hubfs/around-table.jpg?width=630&name=around-table.jpg) November 28, 2024, 1:15:43 PM NZDT Inspection of your Company’s Register by the Companies Office – are you Prepared? ![](https://moranlaw.co/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/A%20navy%20blue%20background%20A%20skyscraper%20building%20to%20the%20left%20of%20the%20image%20to%20the%20right%20of%20the%20image%20an%20wax%20seal%20which%20says%20charity%20There%20is%20an%20arrow%20pointing%20from%20the%20skyscraper%20to%20the%20seal.jpeg?width=630&name=A%20navy%20blue%20background%20A%20skyscraper%20building%20to%20the%20left%20of%20the%20image%20to%20the%20right%20of%20the%20image%20an%20wax%20seal%20which%20says%20charity%20There%20is%20an%20arrow%20pointing%20from%20the%20skyscraper%20to%20the%20seal.jpeg) July 11, 2025, 9:32:10 AM NZST Charitable Companies ### SPECIALIST AREAS [Intellectual Property](https://moranlaw.co/protecting-intellectual-property) [Commercial and Corporate Law](https://moranlaw.co/commercial-and-corporate) [For Families](https://moranlaw.co/elevated-trust-management) [Elevated Trust Management](https://moranlaw.co/for-families) [Not-For-Profits](https://moranlaw.co/not-for-profits) [Privacy, Cyber, and Data Security](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-cyber-and-data-security) ### The Team - [Scott Moran](https://moranlaw.co/scott-moran-moranlaw) - [Amanda Griffiths](https://moranlaw.co/amanda-griffiths-moranlaw) - [Louisa Joblin](https://moranlaw.co/louisa-joblin-moranlaw) - [Jessie Malcolm](https://moranlaw.co/jessie-malcolm-moranlaw) - [Ffion Merchant-Williams](https://moranlaw.co/ffion-merchant-williams-moranlaw) - [John Hackett](https://moranlaw.co/john-hackett-moranlaw) - [Chelcie Kite](https://moranlaw.co/chelcie-kite-moranlaw) - [Venetia McInman](https://moranlaw.co/venetia-mcinman-moranlaw) - [Fergielyn Catayoc](https://moranlaw.co/fergielyn-catayoc-moranlaw) - [Lucas d’Arbois de Jubainville](https://moranlaw.co/lucas-darbois-de-jubainville-moranlaw) - [Kimberley Will](https://moranlaw.co/kimberley-will-moranlaw) - [Shamara Polliack](https://moranlaw.co/shamara-polliack-moranlaw) - [Tracey Lucas](https://moranlaw.co/tracey-lucas-moranlaw) - [Kathy Hunter](https://moranlaw.co/kathy-hunter-moranlaw) - [Sara Barnes](https://moranlaw.co/sara-barnes-moranlaw) - [Rebecca Evans](https://moranlaw.co/rebecca-evans-moranlaw) - [Flora Dryburgh](https://moranlaw.co/flora-dryburgh-moranlaw) - [Jacky Simperingham](https://moranlaw.co/jacky-simperingham-moranlaw) - [Tom Winfield](https://moranlaw.co/tom-winfield-moranlaw) ### Quick Links - [Contact Us](https://moranlaw.co/contact) - [About Us](https://moranlaw.co/about) - [Careers](https://moranlaw.co/careers) - [Privacy Policy](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-policy) - [Terms](https://moranlaw.co/terms-of-engagement) - [Our Blog](https://moranlaw.co/blog) © MoranLaw Limited 2024 [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/moranlaw) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/moranlawnzau/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557642282289) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "MoranLaw Team", "url" : "https://moranlaw.co/blog/author/moranlaw-team" }, "dateModified" : "2026-02-04T01:12:50.246Z", "datePublished" : "2024-09-03T00:21:36.000Z", "headline" : "Legal Update - Companies Act Reforms", "image" : [ "https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/Legal%20Update%20(2).png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://moranlaw.co/blog/legal-update-companies-act-reforms", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/RGB-MoranLaw-logo-primary-BlueAndGreen-2.png" }, "name" : "Moran Law" } } ```