About this register

If you're an overseas association of accountants who require your members to be qualified to perform non-issuer statutory audits in New Zealand, you must be approved by the Registrar of Companies (Registrar).

If you're an overseas auditor who wants to perform non-issuer statutory audits in New Zealand and the overseas association that you are a member of is not approved under FRA 2013, then you need to be approved by the Registrar.

Non-issuer audits are those required under statute for an entity that is not an issuer, for example, organisations that don’t offer securities to the public.

Auditors wishing to perform issuer audits must be licensed under the Auditor Regulation Act 2011. For licensing details please see the Auditors register.

Auditors register

The approvals granted by the Registrar of Companies prior to this date under earlier legislation continued in effect for 1 year until 30 June 2016 under the amended requirements of the Financial Reporting Act 2013 (FRA 2013).

Applying for approval

Overseas association of accountants or overseas auditors who want to be approved under FRA 2013 must apply for approval

Approval is given under section 36(1)(c)(i) or (d)(ii) of FRA 2013 and relates to audits that do not come under the Public Audit Act 2001 or the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

Apply for approval as an overseas association of accountants

Approval as an overseas association of accountants is given by the Registrar of Companies under sections 36(1)(c)(ii) and 36A of the FRA 2013.

Apply now using our online form

Apply for approval as an overseas auditor

Approval as an overseas auditor is given by the Registrar of Companies under sections 36(1)(d)(ii) and 36A of the FRA 2013.

Apply now by downloading the appropriate form.

Approvals are recorded on the register

If approved, your name will be recorded on the Register of Approved Overseas Auditors and Associations of Accountants along with:

• A unique identifier (a 3-digit number prefixed by OASN or OAUD)
• The name of the town/city in which your principal place of business is located
• The type of approved person (overseas auditor or overseas association of accountants)
• Your approval status
• The date your approval was granted
• Any conditions or limitations which apply to your approval
• Any other prescribed information.

You will also receive email confirmation advising you of the registration and your unique identifier.

Details of previous names and location of place of business are not maintained on the register history log. You would need to get previous information directly from the overseas association of accountants or auditor.

Approval details

• The type of approval granted, either as an overseas auditor or as an overseas association of accountants.
• The current status of that approval. Overseas associations and auditors are issued with ‘Approved’ status until the approval is 'Cancelled' or 'Suspended' by the Registrar. The overseas association of accountants or auditor themselves may seek cancellation.
• Date the approval was granted
• Conditions or limitations of approval

Other prescribed information

When granting an approval, the Registrar can impose conditions. For example, restrictions on the ability of an approved association to recognise its members, or conditions that impose limits or restrictions on the types of audits that a person approved may carry out.

Ongoing compliance

Every approved overseas association of accountants or auditor must keep their register entry up to date. There is an ongoing filing obligation to register a report with the Registrar of Companies (the Registrar) and to notify the Registrar if an association or auditor becomes aware that it does not comply, or no longer complies, with the requirements for approval.