Incorporated Societies Act 2022 — Expert Support for Every Stage
The 5 April 2026 reregistration deadline has passed. Whether your society made it across the line or didn’t, IGS has the expertise to help you move forward with confidence.
Not sure where to start? Two clear pathways:
→ We missed the deadline — what now? [Jump to Restoration Support]
→ We’re registered — help us stay compliant [Jump to Ongoing Compliance]
Restoration Support
Didn’t reregister in time? There is a path forward.
Societies removed from the register on 6 April 2026 have lost their separate legal identity. This means frozen bank accounts, no ability to enter contracts, potential personal liability for members, loss of your society’s registered name, and the need to reapply for your IRD number.
Don’t panic — but do act quickly. The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 allows removed societies to apply for restoration through the Companies Office.
What restoration requires:
- A constitution fully compliant with the 2022 Act
- Current officer details (minimum 3 officers), registered office, and a nominated contact person
- A restoration application lodged via the Incorporated Societies Register
- Payment of the $177.78 + GST restoration fee to the Companies Office
- A 20 working day public notice period before restoration is confirmed
| Note: The Companies Office has published restoration guidance for both officers and members/creditors of removed societies. IGS is across the details and will manage each step for you. |
IGS can manage the entire restoration process — from drafting a compliant constitution to preparing and lodging your application with the Registrar. We’ll give you a clear picture of what’s involved and a fixed-fee quote upfront.
Ongoing Compliance
Reregistered? Now the real governance work begins.
The 2022 Act introduces ongoing obligations that go well beyond having a compliant constitution. Your committee needs to stay on top of:
- Filings & returns: Annual returns and tiered financial reporting filed with the Companies Office
- Officer governance: Accurate officer register, conflict of interest disclosures, and clear duty obligations (breaches can carry personal liability)
- Meetings & minutes: Notice periods, quorum, voting, and minute-keeping under the new rules
For volunteer committees, managing these on top of running a club or organisation is a genuine challenge. IGS can help you get on top of it — and keep you there.
How IGS Helps
Practical expert support. Fixed fees. No surprises.
IGS are governance specialists who are also active NFP governors — we understand how incorporated societies actually work, not just how the legislation reads. Fixed-fee pricing starts at $1,500 — a fraction of the $3,000–$10,000+ typically charged in legal fees for the same work.
| Constitution Drafting & Restoration Support We draft a compliant, fit-for-purpose constitution and manage the application process with the Companies Office — whether you’re registering for the first time or restoring after the deadline. |
| AGM/SGM Document Preparation Notices, agendas, resolutions, and minutes — everything your society needs to put constitutional changes to members, meeting all requirements of the Act. |
| Governance Advisory Practical, plain-English advice on officer disputes, conflict of interest, financial governance, or structural change — from experienced governance professionals. |
| CSC members save 10% across all IGS services. |
Compliance Inc Platform
Make ongoing compliance genuinely easy.
Once your society is registered and compliant, the challenge becomes staying that way — year after year, with a volunteer committee that turns over and obligations that are easy to lose track of.
That’s why IGS partnered with Dacreed to build Compliance Inc — an all-in-one governance and compliance platform designed specifically for NZ incorporated societies.
What it does:
- A single, secure hub for board papers, policies, registers, and compliance records
- Your obligations under the 2022 Act, Privacy Act, and H&S legislation translated into plain-English checklists and deadline reminders
- Ready-to-use policy templates and governance documents tailored for NZ societies
- Annual filing tracking and audit preparation support
- Intuitive enough for any committee member — no legal or technical background required
Built for sports clubs, community groups, professional associations, and regional/national bodies that want to pass governance expertise down to member clubs.
| “I only had to look at the list of guides and documents that came with Compliance Inc to realise that this was going to be excellent value.” — Mark Sayes, Secretary, Eden Epsom Tennis and Squash Club |
| “The Compliance Inc offer and support from Independent Governance Services has helped us immensely.” — Jeremy Boucher, Chair, Parnell Cricket Club |
Affordable fixed pricing — cost-effective for every society size. IGS provides full set-up support and ongoing access to our governance experts.
Why Societies Choose IGS
- Governance experts, not just lawyers. Active NFP governors who bring lived experience to every engagement.
- Fixed-fee pricing from $1,500. Know your costs before you commit. No hourly billing, no surprises.
- One-week average turnaround on constitution work — fast without cutting corners.
- Plain English, always. Complex legislation translated into practical guidance your whole committee can act on.
- End-to-end support. From constitution drafting through to ongoing compliance via Compliance Inc.
- NZ-based and sector-focused. We work in the NZ incorporated society sector every day.
Insights
Our Insights section covers the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 in depth — common governance mistakes, officer obligations, financial reporting explained, and more. Written by practitioners, for practitioners.
Not sure where to start? Talk to us.
Whether your society missed the deadline, just reregistered, or has been operating under the 2022 Act and wants to make sure you’re doing it right — IGS offers a free initial conversation. We’ll give you an honest assessment of where you stand and what you need.
We can help you:
- Ensure your constitution is compliant with new requirements
- Streamline your meetings, registers and maintain compliance with the new Act
Purchase a service package
We offer three different fixed-fee service packages for incorporated societies
Insights
Explore our Insights section for articles about the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, including common mistakes to avoid.