Things to do before you apply

You can apply for incorporation online by uploading the required form and supporting documents.

Gather the information you will need

When applying to incorporate as a charitable trust board you need to provide the following information:

• the name you have chosen for the trust board
• the address of your registered office.
• a postal address for communication with us.
• an email address and phone numbers for communications from us.
• the names, addresses and signatures of the trustees, and
• a statutory declaration made by one of the applicants.

Choosing a name

Before choosing a name for your trust board, be sure that you can use it. Your application will be rejected if the name you have chosen is unavailable.

There are some restrictions

The name you choose cannot contain certain words (for example, ANZAC, Royal) the use of which are prohibited by other pieces of legislation.

It cannot be identical or almost identical to that of another charitable trust board, or other body corporate (for example, a company or incorporated society), unless that organisation gives its written consent.

We may also reject names that are:

• likely to mislead people about the board’s nature or identity, or
• considered to be offensive.

How to check whether the name is available

You can search for a charitable trust board on this website, or use the search options on the Companies Office websites to perform a broader search of body corporates and other entity types.

Search for trust boards Search for a company

Your registered office address

Every charitable trust board must have a registered office. This address must be a physical location in New Zealand and include the street number in a town or city.

If the address is a named building, this name should be provided. If the building has more than one floor, or is made up of a suite of offices, then the floor or suite number should also be included.

You cannot use a post office box, private bag or DX address as the registered office.

Your email address

You must provide us with a current email address that we can use to communicate with you. We recommend that this email address is regularly monitored.

If your email address changes, you are responsible for updating this with us to ensure you can still receive our communications.

Prepare your forms and documents

Application

You must complete an application form (Form CT1).

• There must be at least one trustee.
• The application form must be signed by a majority of the trustees (original signatures only).
• On the application form each applicant is required to provide their:
  • full name,
  • physical address, and
  • signature.

Statutory declaration

You will be asked to provide a statutory declaration completed by one of the applicants either:

• identifying other trusts through which applicants hold property, or
• stating that there are no other trusts.

Statutory declarations are made under the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957. The declaration should be dated on the day the application is made.

See page 3 of the application form to complete the statutory declaration.

Copy of your trust deed (including any amendments)

You will also need to submit a copy of your trust deed, and any amendments to that document.

Trust documents must be certified

Your trust documents must be certified by one of the applicants, and include the following statement:

“I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the trust deed the [name of trust board] as per section 10(2)(a) of the Charitable Trusts Act 1957.”

File formats for uploading documents

Any forms or supporting documents you upload must be:

• clear and easily read
• saved in PDF format, and
• no larger than 20MB.

Next step, apply for incorporation

Other guides in

Starting a charitable trust board

• Before you set up a trust board
• Applying to incorporate a trust board
• Your responsibilities as a charitable trust board

Other help topics