This feature is still under development. Some results may be incorrect.
Found an error?
We would love to hear from you. Please email the details to info@bizoffice.co.nz
What are the rules?
Certain words and phrases can be disregarded when determining whether names are identical or almost identical. The words and phrases follow.
The definite article ("the") when it is the first word in a name.
The following words appearing at the end of a name:
- company
- and company
- Company Limited
- Limited
- Tapui (Limited)
- Unlimited
The following abbreviations whenever they appear in a name:
- '&' for 'and'
- 'no' for 'number'
- 'co' or 'coy' for 'company'
- 'N.Z.' or 'NZ' for 'New Zealand'
- 'Bros' for 'Brothers'
The typeface and case (upper or lower) of letters, accents, spaces between letters and punctuation marks.
The Use of Plurals
'Identical' can therefore have the ordinary meaning of the same in every respect or it can mean a name in which the number and order of key words is the same as those in another name.
'Almost identical' is more difficult to define but the Registrar's policy is that it means a name in which the key words and/or the order in which they appear make that name virtually indistinguishable from another. Each case will be considered in light of its own individual circumstances.
In general, a year marker (e.g. '(1995)') is sufficient to distinguish one name from another. For the purposes of determining whether two names are almost identical, a year marker is no different from any other word that distinguishes the names. For example, 'Clothing Company Limited' and 'Clothing Company (1995) Limited' are not almost identical.