Are there banned directors in NZ and how do I check?
Short answer
Yes — the Insolvency and Trustee Service maintains a public register of disqualified or banned directors under sections 383-386 of the Companies Act 1993. You can search by name at insolvency.govt.nz. A banned director can't legally be a director of any NZ company during their banning period. If you're checking a builder, search the directors' names there as part of due diligence — it catches the worst actors that other registers miss.
Source: Companies Act 1993 sections 383-386. Updated May 2026.
Want to check the builder you're talking to? Check any NZ company, no signup.
Check a builderKey facts
- Public register at insolvency.govt.nz
- Bans under Companies Act sections 383-386
- Reasons include fraudulent or reckless trading, persistent breach of duties
- Bans typically 3-10 years
- Banned directors can't form or run companies during the ban
How to search
Go to insolvency.govt.nz, navigate to the disqualified directors search. Type the name. The result shows whether anyone with that name is currently banned, the reason, and the ban period.
Common-name false positives are possible. Cross-check the date of birth or other identifier where given.
When this matters for builders
A banned director can't legally be a director. So if you see a builder's company listing someone as director who's actually banned, that's a serious legal issue — the company itself may be exposed to penalties under the Companies Act.
More commonly: a director who was banned in the past and whose ban has now expired. The ban shows up in their history; it's a 'has been disciplined' signal even though they're legally allowed to operate now. Take that signal seriously.
Knowing the rules is half the job. The other half is knowing who you're hiring. Check any NZ builder against the public record: company status, licensing and insolvency notices, from the official NZ sources.
Related questions
Sources: Companies Act 1993 sections 383-386; Insolvency and Trustee Service — insolvency.govt.nz. General information for NZ homeowners, not legal advice. Building rules change and vary by council, so confirm critical details on the official source before acting. Last updated 2026-05.