Making changes to a trust or a board's rules

Changes to the board's rules

Typically these are administrative, such as a change in trustees or officers, procedures relating to appointments, resignations, meetings, and changes to the powers of a board under section 23(2) of the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 (the Act).

Changes to the trust

These changes are more significant, often involving property. They must be certified by a trustee or a member of the governing committee of the society, with the following statement placed on the document (usually on the cover page) under section 23 (1) of the Act:

“I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the trust deed or rules of the [Name of Trust Board].”

What you'll need to provide

When registering changes of this type, you'll need to complete and submit the following form.

You'll also need to submit a copy of the updated deed or rules with the alterations highlighted, or a copy of the rule (or rules) that have been changed.

A statutory declaration is required as part of the application.

How to register a change to a trust or its rules

To make the changes online

To make changes online to a trust or its rules, you must have:

• a RealMe® login
• an online services account 
• authority to update the register on behalf of your charitable trust board.

Step by step

Then follow these steps:

1. Log in to your online services account.
2. On the dashboard, from 'My Businesses' select the charitable trust board for which you are lodging a rule change or alteration of trust deed.
3. On the 'View Details' page, select 'Maintain Charitable Trust Board', and 'Lodge Variation of Trust or Alteration of Rules'.
4. Select as the document type 'Variation of Trust Document/Alteration of Rules'.
5. Upload the new trust deed or rules document and any supporting documents.
6. Select 'Submit'.

Change a trust or update board rules

To notify us of the change manually

1. Download Form CT3 – Change of name, variation of trust or alteration of rules of a charitable trust board.
2. Complete the form.

Send the form, along with the updated deed or rules, and any supporting documents to us.

By post to —

Companies Office
Private Bag 92061
Victoria Street West
Auckland 1142

or by email to processing@companiesoffice.govt.nz

What happens next

Reviewing your request may take up to 3 working days. You'll receive an email or letter confirming that the change has been registered.

Related articles

• Uploading documents to the register From Getting started on the register

Other guides in

Keeping charitable trust board details up to date

• Reregistering as an incorporated society
• Your responsibilities as a charitable trust board
• Changing your trust board's address
• Changing your trust board's name
• Updating names to include macrons
• Requesting a correction to the Charitable Trusts Register

Other help topics