Updating your credit union’s rules, name or registered office

How to advise us of changes

You must register any change to your credit union’s rules. If your registered office address is documented in your rules, and you change this address, you must update your rules.  Any change to your credit union’s name is also a rule change. Changes only take effect once they have been registered.

Make sure that any rule changes:

  • Are made in accordance with your current rules.
  • Are documented on letterhead paper, and signed by 3 members of the credit union.

We recommend you seek independent legal advice in this regard. Our legal team check all rule changes to ensure they comply.

Updating your rules

Notify us of any change to your credit union’s rules by uploading the following documents online.

  1. A copy of the amendment (to show specifically what has changed), and
  2. A copy of the rules as amended.

These documents must be signed by 3 members of your credit union.

Registered office address requirements

Your registered office address must be a physical address. It cannot be a post office box or private bag address.

If the registered office address is not set out in your rules and the address changes, email details of your new address to compliance@companies.govt.nz.

File formats for uploading documents

Any documents you upload must be:

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

How to update your rules online

You will need:

  • a RealMe® login, and
  • confirmed authority with us to update this credit union.

If it is your first time updating details for a credit union, you will be prompted for information to set up an online account with us.

For help check our guides

Accessing the register using RealMe and confirming your authority with us

Step by step

  1. Log in using your RealMe login.
  2. Select 'Authorities' from the menu.
  3. Choose your credit union from the list.
  4. Select ‘Create Filing Service’.
  5. Choose ‘Change of Rules’ (for the type of service).
  6. Upload the signed rules documents, such as:
    • The amended rules, and
    • a copy of the amendment itself.
  7. Submit your change.
Update a credit union

We will send you an email confirming that your change has been submitted. We will then review your changes and contact you if we have any questions or need any further information.

If we register your change, we will confirm that by email. If we reject your change, we will email you and outline the reasons why.

You can check the status of your change by logging into the Credit Unions Register. Choose the ‘Filing Services’ option to view any changes that are in progress. If your change status shows as ‘Draft’ you can edit or discard it by choosing the drop-down arrow alongside the filing service.

Check the status of an update

Last updated September 2025