(1) There shall from time to time be appointed, pursuant to the State Sector Act 1988, a Registrar of Friendly Societies and Credit Unions.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall prevent the Government Actuary from being appointed as Registrar.

(3) The Registrar shall have a seal of office of which judicial notice shall be taken.

(1) There may from time to time be appointed, pursuant to the State Sector Act 1988, one or more Deputy Registrars of Friendly Societies and Credit Unions.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall prevent the Government Actuary or the Deputy Government Actuary from being appointed as a Deputy Registrar.

(3) Subject to the control of the Registrar, a Deputy Registrar shall have and may exercise all the functions, duties, and powers of the Registrar.

(4) On the occurrence from any cause of a vacancy in the office of Registrar (whether by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise), and in the case of absence from duty of the Registrar (from whatever cause arising), and so long as any such vacancy or absence continues, a Deputy Registrar shall have and may exercise all the functions, duties, and powers of the Registrar.

(5) The fact that a Deputy Registrar is exercising any function, duty, or power of the Registrar shall be conclusive evidence of his authority to do so.

(1) The Registrar shall have a Registry Office, and all documents, or information required by or pursuant to this Act to be sent to the Registrar shall be sent to the Registry Office.

(2) All documents or information required by or pursuant to this Act to be sent to the Registrar shall be deposited with the rules of the society, branch, or credit union to which the documents respectively relate and, together with such observations thereon as he thinks fit, shall be registered or recorded by the Registrar.

(3) The following documents or information contained in any register shall be open to inspection by the public during ordinary office hours on payment of the prescribed fee (if any):

• (a) In respect of any registered society or branch, the rules and any amendments, notices of change of registered office and of the appointment of new trustees, annual returns, actuarial reports (except those requested by the Registrar pursuant to section 74(4) of this Act), notices of change of name and of special resolutions, and any order or award of the Registrar relating to the dissolution or suspension of any business, or the cancellation or suspension of registration of the society or branch:

• (b) In respect of any credit union, the rules and any amendments, notices of change of registered office and of the appointment of new trustees, annual returns, notices of change of name and of special resolutions, and any order or award of the Registrar relating to the dissolution or suspension of any business, or the cancellation or suspension of registration of the credit union.

(4) On payment of the prescribed fee (if any), there shall be sent to any person requesting it in writing a copy of any specified document, except the rules or any amendments, which that person would otherwise be able to inspect pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(5) The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, extend or restrict the range of accounting records and documents that are open to inspection by the public.

There shall from time to time be appointed under the State Sector Act 1988 such officers and employees as may be necessary for the effective and efficient carrying out of the functions and duties of the Registrar.

(1) Subject to the general direction and control of the Minister, the functions of the Registrar shall be to administer this Act and to carry out such duties as may be imposed upon him by this or any other enactment.

(2) The functions of the Government Actuary in relation to this Act shall be—

• (a) To act as adviser to the Registrar on those matters which require the exercise of professional actuarial abilities:

• (b) To undertake such actuarial valuations as may from time to time be required by the Registrar:

• (c) To do and perform such other related functions and duties as may from time to time be required by this Act or the Registrar.

(3) The Registrar and Government Actuary shall have such powers as may be necessary to adequately carry out their respective functions and duties, including—

• (a) The power to request and be supplied with information or reports (including actuarial reports) from registered societies, branches (whether registered or not), or credit unions, whether regularly or otherwise, and whether in respect of any class or classes of society, branch, or credit union, or in respect of any society, branch, or credit union in particular; and

• (b) The power to inspect any accounting records or other documents pursuant to section 8 of this Act.

(1)  The Registrar or any person authorised by him may, for the purpose of ascertaining whether a registered society, branch (whether registered or not), or credit union, or any officer or trustee of any such registered society, branch, or credit union is complying or has complied with this Act or of ascertaining whether the Registrar should exercise any of his functions, duties, or powers under this Act, or of detecting offences against this Act—

• (a) Require a registered society, branch (whether registered or not), or credit union, or any officer or trustee of any such registered society, branch, or credit union to produce for inspection any accounting records or documents that are kept by the registered society, branch, or credit union; and

• (b) In any case where the Registrar or the person authorised by him considers that the aforesaid purpose cannot be achieved by inspecting only the accounting records or documents specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection, require any person (including a bank or receiver or assignee) to produce for inspection any accounting records or documents that contain information relating to any money or other property that is managed, supervised, controlled or held in trust by or for the registered society, branch, or credit union; and

• (c) Inspect and make records of any such accounting records or documents; and

• (d) For the purpose of making records thereof, take possession of and remove from the premises where they are kept, for such period of time as is reasonable in the circumstances, any such accounting records or documents.

(2) [Repealed]

(3) [Repealed]

(4) If any registered society, branch (whether registered or not), or credit union refuses or fails to produce for inspection to the Registrar, or to any person authorised by the Registrar for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, any accounting record or document that the Registrar or authorised person has under that subsection required it to produce, the registered society, branch, or credit union commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

(5) If any officer or trustee of a registered society, branch (whether registered or not), or credit union, or any other person refuses or fails to produce for inspection to the Registrar, or to any person authorised by the Registrar for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, any accounting record or document within the power or control of that officer or trustee or other person that the Registrar or authorised person has under that subsection required him to produce, that officer or trustee or other person commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

(6) Any person who wilfully obstructs or hinders the Registrar, or any person authorised by the Registrar for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, while the Registrar or authorised person is making an inspection or a record or taking possession of or removing any accounting record or document pursuant to that subsection commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

The Registrar may from time to time prepare, cause to be circulated, or publish, for the use of registered societies or branches, or credit unions,—

• (a) Model forms (including forms of accounts, and statements of financial position) and model rules:

• (b) Information on the subject of the statistics of life and sickness and its application to the business of friendly societies:

• (c) Such particulars of annual returns and valuations, and reports, and such other information as the Registrar thinks fit.

(1) The Registrar shall, as soon after the 30th day of June in every year as is practicable, report to the Minister on the principal matters transacted under or pursuant to this Act during the preceding year.

(2) Every report made to the Minister under subsection (1) of this section shall be laid before Parliament as soon as practicable after having been so made.

(1) Subject to this Act, the following societies may be registered under this Part of this Act—

• (a) Societies (in this Act called friendly societies) established to provide by voluntary subscriptions of the members, with or without the aid of donations, for any of the purposes specified in Schedule 1 to this Act:

• (b) Societies (in this Act called benevolent societies) established for any benevolent or charitable purpose:

• (c) Societies (in this Act called working men's clubs) established for the purposes of social intercourse, mutual helpfulness, and recreation:

• (d) Societies (in this Act called specially authorised societies) established for any purpose which the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, authorise as a purpose to which the provisions of this Act, or such of them as are specified in the notice, ought to be extended.

(2) No society or branch shall first be registered under this Part of this Act unless it consists of at least 7 adults.

(3) No society or branch shall be registered under this Act which contracts with any person for the assurance of a gross sum or of an annuity in excess of the limits specified in section 42 of this Act.

(4) In the case of specially authorised societies and their registered branches (if any) established pursuant to subsection (1)(d) of this section—

• (a) The rules shall bind the society or registered branch and its members, and all persons claiming through them respectively, to the same extent as if each member had subscribed his name and (where appropriate) affixed his seal, and there were in such rules a covenant on the part of himself, his executors and administrators, to conform to such rules subject to the provisions of this Act:

• (b) All money payable by a member to the society or to a registered branch shall be deemed to be a debt due from such member to the society or registered branch, and shall be recoverable as such.

(1) An application to register a society under this Part of this Act shall be signed by 7 adult members and the secretary of the society, and shall be sent to the Registrar.

(2) Together with an application under subsection (1) of this section, there shall be sent a copy of the rules of the society signed by those persons who signed that application and a list of the names, addresses, and designations of the committee of management, the secretary, treasurer, and other principal officers, the trustees, and those persons who are authorised to sue and be sued on behalf of the society.

(3) The rules of the society so sent shall either—

• (a) Contain provisions in respect of the matters mentioned in Schedule 2 to this Act; or

• (b) Accord with any model rules applicable to the society as produced by the Registrar pursuant to section 9 of this Act.

(4) If the list so sent is signed by the secretary and every other person named, it shall on the registration of the society be evidence that the persons so named have been duly appointed to their office.

(5) A society shall not be registered under a name identical with that under which any other existing society is registered, or so nearly resembling that name as to be likely, or in any name likely, in the opinion of the Registrar, to deceive the members or the public as to its nature or its identity or in any name which in his opinion is otherwise undesirable.

(6) If—

• (a) Through inadvertence or otherwise, a society at its first registration, or on its registration by a new name, is registered by a name which is in contravention of subsection (5) of this section, or of any enactment (other than this Act), relating to restrictions on the use of any name; or

• (b) A society is for the time being registered by a name which, in the opinion of the Registrar, is undesirable,—

the society shall, within a period of 4 weeks from the date of its being required by the Registrar to do so, or such longer period as he may allow, change its name to a name that is not in contravention as aforesaid and is not, in the opinion of the Registrar, undesirable.

A society which is neither a benevolent society nor a working men's club shall not be disentitled to registration by reason of any rule for, or practice of, dividing any part of its funds, if the rules of the society contain distinct provision for meeting all claims upon the society existing at the time of the division before any such division takes place.

(1) Where a society has existing branches, the application for registration of the society shall be accompanied by—

• (a) A list of all the branches and notice of the place where the registered office of each branch, to which all communications and notices may be addressed, is to be situated:

• (b) A list of the names, addresses, and designations of the committee of management of each branch, the secretary, treasurer, and other principal officers, and the trustees of each branch:

• (c) If any branch is to have persons authorised to sue and be sued on its behalf (other than the persons authorised to sue and be sued on behalf of the society), a list of the names of all such persons, distinguishing the branches for which they are authorised to sue and be sued:

• (d) a copy of all branch rules.

(2) The rules in respect of a branch shall either—

• (a) Contain provisions in respect of the matters mentioned in Schedule 3 to this Act; or

• (b) Accord with any model rules applicable to the branch as produced by the Registrar pursuant to section 9 of this Act.

(3) If a branch does not have separate rules, provision in respect of the matters mentioned in Schedule 3 to this Act shall be made (with respect to the branch) in the rules of the society or branch of which that branch forms part.

(4) No branch shall be registered unless its objects are identical with or comprised in the objects of the society of which it forms part.

(5) No society shall be registered until every branch of the society in being when the society makes application for registration is capable of being registered at the same time, and when the Registrar issues to the society an acknowledgment of registration under section 17 of this Act, he shall at the same time issue to each branch of that society a separate acknowledgment of registration.

(1) No society, whether a friendly society or otherwise, or branch of that society shall be registered under this Part of this Act until the rates of contributions for any benefits to be provided by the society or branch (being in accordance with the purposes specified in Schedule 1 to this Act and as set out in the rules submitted with the application for registration), are certified by an actuary as being appropriate for the business to which they relate.

(2) The Registrar may, in writing, exempt wholly or in part from the requirements of subsection (1) of this section any society or branch transacting business in respect of which he thinks those requirements to be inapplicable, and may from time to time review, vary, or revoke any exemption so given.

(1) On receiving the copy of the rules under section 12 or section 19 of this Act, the Registrar may, if he thinks fit, refer a copy to the Revising Barrister.

(2) If the Revising Barrister is of the opinion that the objects of the society and the rules comply with the requirements of this Act, he shall advise the Registrar accordingly.

(3) If the Revising Barrister is of opinion that the objects of the society, or any of them, or any of the rules do not comply with the requirements of this Act, he shall notify his opinion in writing to the Registrar, specifying in what particulars the rules or other matters do not so comply; and the Registrar shall then return the rules to the secretary of the society, with a copy of the opinion of the Revising Barrister, and the society may submit amended rules to the Registrar, signed as required under section 12 of this Act.

(1) On being satisfied that the society or branch has complied with the provisions of this Part of this Act as to registration, the Registrar shall—

• (a) Issue to that society or branch an acknowledgment of registration which, in the case of a society, shall specify the designation of that society according to the classification set out in section 11(1) of this Act; and

• (b) [Repealed]

(2) An acknowledgment of registration under subsection (1) of this section shall be conclusive evidence that the society or branch therein mentioned is duly registered under this Act, unless it is proved that the registration of the society or, in the case of a branch, the society of which it is a branch, has been suspended or cancelled.

(3) If—

• (a) Through inadvertence or otherwise, a society at its registration is wrongly designated according to the classification set out in section 11(1) of this Act; or

• (b) A society is for the time being designated in a classification which, in the opinion of the Registrar, is incorrect for that society—

the Registrar may, after considering any representations of the society made within 4 weeks from the date of its being requested by the Registrar to do so, amend the designation.

(1) If the Registrar refuses to issue an acknowledgment of registration to a society, the society may, within 3 months after the date of the refusal, appeal from that refusal to the High Court.

(2) If the refusal is overruled on appeal, then, subject to such terms and conditions as the Court may impose or otherwise in pursuance of the Court order, an acknowledgment of registration shall forthwith be issued to the society by the Registrar.

(1) When a new branch of a registered society is established, the society shall send to the Registrar an application for the registration of that branch signed by the secretary of the branch and by 3 of its adult members, and countersigned by the secretary of the society.

(2) All the provisions of section 14 of this Act shall apply, with any necessary modification, with respect to the establishment of a new branch as if it were a branch existing at the time of the registration of the society.

(3) Every application under this section shall be made within 3 months after the establishment of the branch, but no such application shall be invalid because it is made after the expiration of that period.

(4) If any branch continues in existence for more than 3 months without an application being made for its registration, or for more than 3 months after an application for its registration has been refused, every officer of the branch, or of the registered society of which it is a branch, shall be guilty of a continuing offence against this Act so long thereafter as the branch remains in existence and unregistered.

(5) No society shall, in respect of any branch, be entitled to any privilege, benefit, or protection conferred by this Act or enactment relating to registered societies until such branch has been registered.

(1) Every registered branch may, in accordance with the rules of the society of which it forms a part,—

• (a) Secede from that society; or

• (b) Be expelled from that society.

(2) Every branch which has duly seceded or been expelled from the society of which it forms a part shall, 3 months after having so seceded or been expelled and subject to no application having been made for registration under section 21 of this Act, be deemed to be no longer registered under this Act; but no such secession or expulsion shall affect any liability previously incurred by the branch or its officers.

(3) A body which, having been a branch of a registered society, has wholly seceded or been expelled from that society, shall not use the name of that society or any name implying that it is a branch thereof, or the number or other means of identification allotted by the Registrar by which it was designated as such a branch.

(1) A body which, having been a branch of a registered society, has wholly seceded or been expelled from that society may, within 3 months after having so seceded or been expelled, apply pursuant to section 12 of this Act for registration as a society in its own right.

(2) No such body shall be so registered unless there is produced to the Registrar a certificate, under the hand of the secretary or other principal officer of the society of which the body was a branch, that the body has seceded or has been expelled from the society, or the Registrar is otherwise satisfied on those matters.

An acknowledgment of the registration of a society or branch under section 17 of this Act shall also constitute an acknowledgment, and be conclusive evidence, of the registration of the rules of the society or branch in force at the date of the registration of the society or branch.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, any amendment of the rules of a society or branch as for the time being registered under this Act shall not be valid until the amendment has been so registered, and for this purpose a copy of the amendment, signed by 3 members and the secretary of the society or of the branch, as the case may be, shall be sent to the Registrar.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to a change in the situation of the registered office of a society or branch; but—

• (a) Notice of any change in the situation of the registered office of a society or branch shall be sent to the Registrar and, in the case of a change in the situation of the registered office of a branch, shall be sent to the Registrar through the secretary of the society of which the branch forms part; and

• (b) Where notice of such a change is sent to the Registrar under paragraph (a) of this subsection, he shall register it as an amendment of the rules of the society or branch concerned.

(3) No amendment of the rules of a society or branch shall be registered unless the rules as amended contain all the provisions that would be required, in accordance with the Second or Schedule 3 of this Act or any model rules produced by the Registrar, as the case may be, on an application for the registration of the society or branch.

(4) No amendment of the rules of a branch shall be registered if the objects of the branch thereby cease to be identical with or comprised in the objects of the society of which the branch forms a part.

(1) All amendments of rules sent to the Registrar may be submitted by him for the perusal of the Revising Barrister in the manner provided by section 16 of this Act as to rules sent to the Registrar upon an application for the registration of a society, and the Revising Barrister shall consider the amendments in the same manner and give his opinion accordingly.

(2) If in the opinion of the Registrar any amendment of a rule may adversely affect the financial soundness of the society or branch or alters the rates of contribution certified pursuant to section 15(1) of this Act, the amendment shall not be registered until an actuary has certified in writing that the amendment does not adversely affect the financial soundness of the society or branch or that the altered rates of contributions are appropriate for the business to which they relate.

On being satisfied that any amendment of the rules of a registered society or branch complies with and is not contrary to the provisions of this Part of this Act, the Registrar shall issue to the society or branch, in respect of that amendment, an acknowledgment of registration which shall be conclusive evidence that the amendment is duly registered.

(1) Without limiting the responsibilities of any registered society or branch to comply with the provisions of this Act, the Registrar may, if he thinks the rules of a registered society or branch should be amended to comply with any provision of this Act, by notice in writing served personally or by post upon the society or branch, require it within the period specified in the notice to amend the rules in the manner so specified or otherwise in a manner approved by the Registrar.

(2) Subject to this Act, if within the period specified in the notice the society or branch fails to amend the rules as required, the Registrar may himself, by notation upon the registered copy of the rules, amend the rules of the society or branch.

(3) The Registrar shall give a society or branch notice in writing of any amendment effected by him under this section and of the date on which the amendment comes into effect.

Every registered society or branch shall deliver to any person on request, on payment of a sum not exceeding $5 or such other sum as may be prescribed from time to time by the Governor-General by Order in Council, a copy of the rules of the society or branch.

(1) Every registered society and branch shall have one or more trustees, who shall from time to time be appointed by a resolution of a majority of the members entitled to vote who are present personally or by proxy (where proxies are allowed by the rules) at a meeting of the society or branch.

(2) As soon as practicable after any trustee of a registered society or branch dies, or resigns his office or is removed from office, a new trustee shall be appointed in his place in the manner prescribed by subsection (1) of this section.

(3) A registered society or branch may at any time by resolution passed in the same manner remove any trustee and appoint a new trustee in his place.

(4) No act done by any person appointed as a trustee shall be invalidated by any irregularity or defect in the mode of his appointment, or by the fact that there is any vacancy in the full number of the trustees.

(5) Within 14 days after any resolution appointing a trustee, the society or branch, as the case may be, shall send to the Registrar a copy of the resolution signed by the trustee appointed and by the secretary of the society or branch.

(6) In the case of a branch the copy of the resolution shall be sent to the Registrar through the secretary of the society of which the branch forms part.

(7) The same person shall not be secretary or treasurer of a registered society or branch and also a trustee of that society or branch; but, with the consent in writing of the Registrar, the same person may be both the secretary and the treasurer of that society or branch.

(1) All property belonging to a registered society, whether acquired before or after the society is registered, shall vest in the trustees for the time being of the society for the use and benefit of the society and its members, and of all persons claiming through the members according to the rules of the society.

(2) The property of a registered branch of a society, whether acquired before or after the branch is registered, shall, as the rules of the society provide, vest wholly or partly in the trustees for the time being of that branch, or of any other branch of which that branch forms part, or in the trustees of the society, for the use and benefit either of the members of any such branch and persons claiming through those members, or of the members of the society generally and persons claiming through them according to the rules of the society; but, in the absence of any such rules, or so far as the rules of the society do not extend, the property of a registered branch of a society, whether acquired before or after the branch is registered, shall vest in the trustees for the time being of that branch for the use and benefit of the members of that branch and persons claiming through them.

(3) Upon the death, resignation, or removal of a trustee of a registered society or branch the property vested in that trustee shall, without conveyance, transfer, or assignment, vest (subject to the same trusts) in the succeeding trustees of that society or branch, either solely or together with any surviving or continuing trustees, and until the appointment of succeeding trustees pursuant to section 28(2) of this Act, in the surviving or continuing trustees only, or in the executors or administrators of the last surviving or continuing trustee.

(4) Where any property (other than land dealt with pursuant to section 33 of this Act) is vested in trustees under this section and, for the purposes of registering the title to or for any other dealing in connection with that property, an instrument is required to be executed by the trustees, that instrument may be executed by the trustees denoted by their official titles and not by their proper names; and no person claiming under any such instrument shall be affected by any notice, actual or constructive, that the property so dealt with was not vested in the persons executing the instrument, or that such execution was in contravention of the rules of the society or branch of which those persons were, or purported to be, trustees.

(1) Where any person, being a trustee of a registered society or branch,—

• (a) Becomes a person subject to a property order under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988; or

• (b) Has had issued in respect of his person a person subject to a property order under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988; or

• (c) Has been adjudicated a bankrupt or is bound by a composition in favour of his creditors; or

• (d) Is missing or whose whereabouts are unknown, and is not known to the surviving trustees of the society or branch to be alive or dead,—

then, on application in writing by the secretary and 3 adult members of the society or branch and on proof of the facts to his satisfaction, the Registrar may, by direction in writing, direct and authorise the transfer of any property of the society or branch held in the name of the trustee into the names of the existing trustees of the society or branch, or, in the case of a branch which has ceased to exist, into the names of the existing trustees of the society of which the branch formed part; and every such direction in writing shall be sufficient authority to all persons to make such a transfer accordingly in the same manner as if the said property had been assigned to the said existing trustees in due course of law.

(2) The Registrar and all persons acting in pursuance of any such direction in writing are hereby indemnified for all things done by him or them in pursuance of this section, or of such direction against any claim or demand of any person injuriously affected thereby.

(1) Where a trustee of a registered society or branch—

• (a) Is absent from New Zealand or is about to depart therefrom; or

• (b) Is by reason of illness or of any other cause unable to perform his duties as trustee,—

he may, by an instrument in writing sent to and registered by the Registrar, delegate his duties as trustee.

(2) A trustee may not delegate his duties under subsection (1) of this section unless—

• (a) His co-trustees and the committee of management of the registered society or branch consent to the delegation; and

• (b) The delegation is to a person residing in New Zealand who is a co-trustee or is capable of being appointed a trustee of the registered society or branch.

(3) A delegation may be made under this section in respect of the whole or any part of the duties of the trustee.

(4) A delegation under this section shall operate until revoked by the trustee who made the delegation or by the committee of management of the registered society or branch by a notice of revocation sent to and registered by the Registrar.

(5) Two or more trustees may concurrently delegate their duties under this section.

(6) A trustee of a registered society or branch shall remain answerable for all acts and omissions of his delegate within the scope of the delegation as if they were the acts or omissions of the trustee, and the delegate shall be subject to the provisions of this Act so far as it relates to the performance of the duties delegated in the same manner as if he were the trustee.

(1) Every registered society or branch shall forward to any District Land Registrar, as and when required by him, a notice setting forth the names of the trustees in whom the property of the society or branch is vested, and also a copy of the rules of the society or branch.

(2) Every such notice shall be accompanied by a statutory declaration made by one of the trustees of the society or branch, stating that the declarant is one of the trustees in whom the property of the society or branch is vested, and verifying the statements contained in the notice.

(1) Land under the Land Transfer Act 1952 may be transferred, leased, or mortgaged to the registered society or branch by memorandum of transfer, lease, or mortgage made to the trustees (denoted by their official titles and not by their own proper names) in whom the property of the society or branch, or any part of that property, is for the time being vested; and such trustees for the time being shall be deemed to be the registered proprietors of the land so transferred, or of such lease or mortgage.

(2) Where any instrument affecting the land included in any such transfer, lease, or mortgage is presented to the District Land Registrar for registration, he shall register the same if it purports to be executed by the persons in whom the property thereby affected appears to him to have been vested at the time of the execution of the instrument or by a majority of those persons in any case where the rules of the society or branch authorise the execution of such an instrument by a majority of those persons.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, any discharge of a mortgage vested in a society or branch of land under the Land Transfer Act 1952 or any alteration in the terms of any such mortgage (or any variation of priority in relation to any such mortgage) shall be registered by the District Land Registrar if it appears to him to be executed by a majority of the trustees for the time being of the society or branch, as the case may require.

(4) No person claiming under any such instrument so registered shall be affected by notice, actual or constructive, that the property of the society or branch was not vested in the persons executing the same, or that the instrument was executed in contravention of the rules of the society or branch.

(1) Before taking upon himself the execution of his office, every officer of a registered society or branch having the receipt or charge of money shall, notwithstanding any rule of the society or branch to the contrary, give security in accordance with subsection (2) of this section for his rendering a just and true account of all sums of money received and paid by him on account of the society or branch at such times as its rules appoint, or as the society or branch or its trustees or committee require him to do, and for the payment by him of all sums due from him to the society or branch.

(2) Where an officer of a registered society or branch is required to give security in accordance with subsection (1) of this section, he shall do so either—

• (a) By becoming bound with at least one sufficient surety in such form of bond as may from time to time be prescribed by the Registrar for the purpose; or

• (b) By giving the security of a guarantee society—

in such sum as the Registrar may from time to time recommend or, in the absence of such a recommendation, as the society or branch directs.

(3) In this section the term guarantee society means—

• (a) Any incorporated company carrying on the business of insurance in New Zealand; or

• (b) Any society registered under this Part of this Act as a specially authorised society and duly authorised to guarantee the fidelity of officers of registered societies or branches.

(4) In the case of any registered friendly society which makes provision by its rules in accordance with clause 8 of Schedule 1 to this Act for guaranteeing the performance of their duties by officers of the society or its branches, it shall be a sufficient compliance with this section if any officer of the society or of any branch thereof gives the security of the society in accordance with those rules.

(5) The Registrar may from time to time, either generally or specifically, review any security or bond given pursuant to this section and may require amendments to the sums secured or conditions applying or both.

(1) Every officer of a registered society or branch having the receipt or charge of money shall—

• (a) At such times as he is required to do so by the rules of the society or branch; or

• (b) On demand; or

• (c) On notice in writing requiring him to do so given or left at his last or usual place of residence,—

render such account as may be required by the society or branch, or by the trustees or committee of management of the society or branch; and shall, on demand or on notice as in paragraph (c) of this subsection, pay over all money and deliver all property in his hands or custody to such person as the society or branch, or the committee or the trustees, may appoint.

(2) In case of any neglect or refusal to deliver the account or to pay over the money or to deliver the property in accordance with subsection (1) of this section, the trustees or authorised officers of the society or branch—

• (a) May sue upon any bond or security given under section 34 of this Act; or

• (b) May apply to the District Court for an order requiring the officer to remedy that neglect or to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section.

Where any officer (other than a trustee) of a registered society or branch, having in his possession by virtue of his office any money or property belonging to the society or branch, dies or becomes bankrupt or becomes a party to any arrangement for the benefit of his creditors, or where any execution, attachment, or other process is issued against such officer or against his property, in any such case his executors or administrators, or the Official Assignee or other person executing such process, shall, upon demand in writing by the trustees of the society or of the branch, or by any 2 of them, or by any person authorised by the society or branch or by its committee of management to make such demand, pay the money and deliver over the property to the trustees of the society or branch in preference to any other debts or claims against the estate of the officer notwithstanding any other enactment or rule of law to the contrary.

(1) Subject to any provision in the rules of a registered society or branch as to voting by a chairman who has a casting vote, on every matter which is determined by a vote of members of a registered society or branch every member shall be entitled to vote and shall have one vote only.

(2) The rules of a registered society or branch may provide that, at any meeting of delegates, the manner of voting and the number of votes to be cast by the delegates shall be as set out in the rules.

Except as provided in this Part of this Act, the subscription of a person who is or has been a member of a registered society or branch shall not be recoverable at law.

(1) A person 16 years of age or younger may be a member of a registered society or branch if the rules so provide.

(2) A person over the age of 16 years may be a member of a registered society or branch unless the rules provide to the contrary.

(3) A minor shall not be a trustee nor hold office as treasurer of any registered society or branch.

(1) Every registered society or branch shall set up and maintain an indexed register for each separate category of its members showing—

• (a) The name and address of each member:

• (b) The date on which the member joined the society or branch:

• (c) The date on which any person ceased to be a member.

(2) The register of members shall also show such other particulars as may from time to time be prescribed by the Registrar.

(3) The register shall be kept at the registered office of the society or branch, and shall be open to inspection during ordinary office hours by any member of the society or branch.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, any member or other person having an interest in the funds of a registered society or branch may inspect the books and accounts of the society or branch at all reasonable hours at the registered office of the society or branch or at any place where the books or accounts are kept.

(2) Unless he is an officer of the society or branch or is specially authorised by resolution of the society or branch to do so, a member or other person having an interest in the funds of a registered society or branch shall not have the right to inspect any account of any other member without the written consent of that member.

(1) No member or person claiming through a member shall receive from any registered society or branch or from any registered society including its branches taken together more than $100,000 by way of gross sum together with any bonuses or additions declared upon assurances not exceeding that sum, or more than $5,000 a year by way of annuity together with any bonus or addition declared upon that annuity.

(2) The Governor-General may, from time to time by Order in Council, amend any amount specified in subsection (1) of this section as being a maximum gross sum of assurances or annuity.

(3) In this section, the term assurance includes all life and endowment assurance, and any assurance payable on the member's death provided by the society or branch in respect of any shares in or loans by a credit union.

(1) Subject to this section, a member of a registered society (other than a benevolent society or working men's club) or of a branch thereof who is not under the age of 16 years may, by writing under his hand delivered at or sent to the registered office of the society or branch, or made in a register kept at that office, nominate a person or persons to whom any sum of money payable by the society or branch on the death of that member or any specified amount of money so payable shall be paid at his decease.

(2) The total amount which may be nominated under this section shall not exceed $2,000, but where a nomination under this section does not specify the maximum sum of money which is to be payable by virtue of the nomination, and the sum to which the nomination relates exceeds $2,000 the nomination shall not be invalidated by reason only of the excess.

(3) A person nominated under this section shall not at the date of the nomination be an officer or employee of the society or branch, unless that officer or employee is the spouse, civil union partner, de facto partner, father, mother, child, brother, sister, nephew, or niece of the nominator.

(4) A nomination so made may be revoked or varied by any similar document under the hand of the nominator delivered, sent or made as mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.

(5) The marriage or civil union of a member of the society or branch shall operate as a revocation of any nomination previously made by that member under this section.

(6) A nomination, or a variation or revocation of a nomination, by writing under the hand of a member of a registered branch and delivered at or sent to the registered office of that branch, or made in a register kept at that office, shall be effectual notwithstanding that the money to which the nomination relates, or some part thereof, is not payable by that branch but is payable by the society or some other branch.

(7) If the nomination is in favour of 2 or more persons, the sum payable shall be paid in the shares specified, and if no shares are so specified, then in equal shares.

(8) No person shall be capable of making separate and successive nominations in favour of different persons, and if successive nominations are so made by any person the earlier shall be deemed to be revoked by the later.

(9) The Governor-General may, from time to time by Order in Council, amend the amount specified in subsection (2) of this section as being the maximum amount that may be nominated under this section.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, on receiving satisfactory proof of the death of a nominator, the registered society or branch shall pay to his nominee or nominees the amount due to the deceased or, as the case may be, the amount specified in the nomination.

(2) The total amount paid by virtue of a nomination (whether in favour of one nominee or more) shall not exceed the amount specified in section 43(2) of this Act as being the maximum amount payable pursuant to a nomination.

(3) The receipt of a nominee over 16 years of age for any amount paid in accordance with this section shall be valid.

(4) Where a society or branch has paid money to a nominee in ignorance of a marriage or civil union subsequent to the nomination, the receipt of the nominee shall be a valid discharge to the society or branch.

(1) A registered society or branch shall not pay any sum of money upon the death of a member or other person whose death is, or ought to be, entered in any register of deaths, except upon the production—

• (a) Of a death certificate or doctor's certificate (within the meaning of section 2 of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995) relating to the death of the member or other person; or

• (b) Of the grant of probate of the will of the member or other person or of letters of administration to his estate.

(2) Subsection (1)(a) of this section shall not apply to deaths at sea or out of New Zealand, nor to a death where the body cannot be found, nor to any death certified by a Coroner to be the subject of a pending inquiry, nor to any case where the Registrar, on being satisfied of the fact of death, grants an exemption from this section.

Sections 67B to 67E of the Life Insurance Act 1908 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply in respect of a registered society or branch as if—

• (a) Every reference therein (except section 67B(1)(b)) to a company were a reference to a registered society or branch; and

• (b) The reference in section 67B(1)(a) to premiums paid under the policy issued by the company on the life of the minor were a reference to any contributions paid to the registered society or branch in order to obtain the benefit payable on the death of the minor.

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, where the rules of a registered society or branch provide that a member who elects to cease contributing for a sum payable at death or on survival to a specified date shall be entitled on such election to receive a cash payment, the society or branch may (if its rules so provide) make a loan to any member so entitled to cease contributing of an amount not exceeding 90 percent of the cash payment to which the member would be entitled if he elected on the day the loan is granted so to cease contributing.

(2) The amount of the loan, or such part as has not been repaid, together with any interest which may then be owing, shall be a first charge on the sum payable at death or on survival to the specified date or if the member subsequently elects to cease contributing.

(1) No money paid or payable by a registered friendly society or a registered branch of any such society to a member, or on the death of a member, shall be assets in the bankruptcy of that member, or pass to the trustee or assignee in that bankruptcy, or be seized, attached, or otherwise taken in execution under the process of any Court, or pass under a general assignment of the member's property; nor shall any such money, unless otherwise expressly and specifically directed by the will of the member, become available for the payment of his debts or liabilities on his death.

(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to—

• (a) Any money which is paid or payable by a registered friendly society or branch to any member otherwise than in his capacity as a member; or

• (b) Any money which is paid or payable by a registered friendly society or branch to a member, or on the death of a member, by virtue of that member's membership of a credit union; or

• (c) Any money paid or payable under any agreement or transaction whereby the member has attempted to defeat or delay his creditors.

(3) This section shall bind the Crown.

(1) The trustees of a registered society or branch may, with the consent given either generally or specifically by the committee or by a majority of the members of the society or branch present and entitled to vote in general meeting, from time to time invest the funds of the society or branch or any part of them in accordance with this Act.

(2) Without limiting the matters to which a trustee may have regard pursuant to Part 2 of the Trustee Act 1956, in the exercise of his powers of investment a trustee of a registered society or branch shall have regard—

• (a) To the need to ensure that sufficient funds are readily available to meet the operating expenses and other outgoings of the society or branch:

• (b) To a consideration of whether or not any investment is consistent with the objectives of the society or branch and is within its rules:

• (c) To the need for diversification and balance in the investments, both as to the nature of the investments and to the time elapsing before maturity or realisation, in so far as is appropriate having regard to the circumstances of the society or branch,—

but shall not be obliged to make any investment that he considers to be of an undesirable nature or that he would otherwise regard as being imprudent.

(3) Before exercising any power of investment under this Act, a trustee shall obtain and consider proper advice as to whether or not the investment is authorised and is satisfactory after having regard to the matters referred to in subsection (2) of this section.

(4) The trustee or trustees of a registered society or branch shall formulate, and from time to time review, a policy relating to the retention of investments and the circumstances under which investments should be realised or changed having regard to the matters referred to in subsection (2) of this section, and, in cases of doubt, shall obtain proper advice.

(5) For the purposes of subsections (3) and (4) of this section but subject, in the case of real property, to section 52(2) of this Act, proper advice is the advice of a person who is reasonably believed by the trustee to be qualified to give it by reason of his profession or occupation and his personal expertise and experience in financial and investment matters, and may be given by a person notwithstanding that he gives it in the course of his employment as an officer or employee of the society or branch, or is a co-trustee.

(1) The rules of a registered society with branches, and of any registered branch of that society, may provide for the investment of funds of the society or of that branch—

• (a) By the trustees of the society; or

• (b) By the trustees of any branch of that society.

(2) The consent required for any such investment shall be the consent given either generally or specifically by the committee or by a majority of the members of the society or branch by whose trustees the funds are invested, being members present and entitled to vote in general meeting.

(1) Except as provided in this Act and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the rules of a society or branch, no registered society or branch shall be entitled to borrow money nor shall any person lend money to any registered society or branch.

(2) Any bank carrying on business in New Zealand may grant, and any registered society or branch may receive, accommodation by way of overdraft in aid of any account established with that bank by that society or branch, and that account may be overdrawn accordingly for a term not exceeding 6 months at any one time unless a longer term or an extension of an existing term is authorised in writing by the Registrar.

Subject to this Act, a trustee may invest the funds of a registered society or branch in accordance with the provisions of the Trustee Act 1956 as to the investment of trust funds.

(1) A registered society whose object, or one of whose objects, is to provide medical or surgical requisites (not being medical or surgical attendance) for its members or for the members of any registered societies or branches contributing to its funds may (if its rules so provide)—

• (a) Issue debentures to member societies or branches for the purpose of raising the capital money required for commencing or extending its business of providing such medical or surgical requisites:

• (b) Without limiting the powers of investment contained in section 52 of this Act, invest in the shares of any company in which it is necessary to hold shares in order to obtain supplies for the business of providing medical or surgical requisites or in which it is necessary to hold shares to enable such business of providing medical or surgical requisites to be carried on.

(2) Every branch of such registered society and every registered society or branch contributing to its funds may take up any debentures issued under subsection (1)(a) of this section, and may invest any portion of their funds in them.

(3) The debentures issued under subsection (1)(a) of this section shall be of such amount, and for such term, and shall bear such rate of interest as the committee or a majority of the members of the society issuing them approves.

A registered society or branch may subscribe to any hospital, infirmary, or charitable or provident institution, any annual or other sum necessary to secure to members of the society or branch and their families the benefits of that hospital, infirmary, or other institution.

A registered society or branch may (if its rules so provide) out of any surplus which has arisen in its management fund, and within the limits prescribed by the rules, make donations for charitable, benevolent, philanthropic, or cultural purposes.

(1) A registered society or branch may contribute to the funds or take part by delegates or otherwise in the government of any other registered society or branch in any manner provided by the rules of that first-named society or branch, without becoming a branch of that other society or branch.

(2) A registered society or branch shall not withdraw from contributing to the funds of a medical society (being a society established to provide medical or surgical attendance, relief, or requisites) except on not less than 6 months' notice and on payment of all contributions accrued or accruing due on or before the date of the expiration of the notice.

(3) All money payable by a member of any registered society or branch to meet any contributions payable by that society or branch to a medical society shall be deemed to be a debt due from the member to his society or branch, and shall be recoverable as such.

(1) Subject to this Act, a registered society or branch may (if its rules so provide)—

• (a) Hold, purchase, acquire by gift, devise, bequest, or otherwise, or take on lease, any land in the names of the trustees of the society or branch:

• (b) Sell, exchange, mortgage, or lease that land:

• (c) Erect, alter, pull down, or rebuild buildings on that land:

• (d) Provide, equip, furnish, and maintain on any such land holiday accommodation for its members and their families:

• (e) Establish and conduct convalescent homes for the aged.

• (f) Establish and conduct retirement villages and day care centres for persons who are aged, sick, or infirm.

(2) A registered society or branch may (if its rules so provide) enter into any arrangement by which it may purchase, build, take on lease, or otherwise provide, and equip, furnish, alter, and maintain such building or part of a building as is sufficient for the purpose of conducting its business therein.

(3) No purchaser, assignee, mortgagee, or tenant shall be bound to inquire as to the authority for any sale, exchange, mortgage, or lease by the trustees, and the receipt of the trustees shall be a discharge for all money arising from or in connection with the sale, exchange, mortgage, or lease.

(4) Subject, in the case of an instrument affecting land under the Land Transfer Act 1952, to the provisions of section 33 of this Act, every document to be executed by a registered society or branch in the exercise of any powers conferred on it by this section may (if its rules so provide) be executed by a majority of the trustees in whom the property of the society or branch is vested.

(1) Notwithstanding section 29 of this Act, any part of the funds of a registered society or of any branch of such a society, and any stocks, shares, or securities held by or on behalf of such a society or branch, may be transferred to the Public Trust or a trustee company if—

• (a) Public Trust or the trustee company agrees to the transfer; and

• (b) Rules of the society or branch are being, or have been, made for the purpose.

(2) Public Trust or the trustee company shall invest, in accordance with the rules, any funds so transferred and shall pay the interest on any stocks, shares, or securities acquired by or transferred pursuant to this section to the trustees of the society or branch, and shall, where the trustees so require, transfer the capital of the stocks, shares, or securities to them, or realise the same and transfer the proceeds to them.

(3) Public Trust or the trustee company shall not be under any liability in relation to any stock, shares, or securities held under this section, and no action shall lie against Public Trust or the trustee company in respect of any such stock, shares, or securities where it acts in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(1) The first financial year of a registered society or branch may extend from the date of its registration to such date not later than 18 months from the date of its registration as may be specified in its rules.

(2) Where the rules of a registered society or branch are amended to alter its financial year, the amendment may provide that the financial year current at the date of amendment shall be extended for such period not exceeding 6 months as may be specified in its rules or that the financial year next following the financial year that is so current shall be for such period exceeding 12 months but not exceeding 18 months as may be specified in its rules.

(3) Nothing in this section limits or affects the requirements imposed by the Financial Reporting Act 1993 on a registered society or branch which is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of that Act.

(1) Every registered society and branch shall—

• (a) Cause proper accounting records to be kept relating to its transactions, and its assets and liabilities; and

• (b) Establish and maintain a satisfactory system of control of its accounting records, its cash holdings, and all its receipts and payments.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) of this section, the accounting records must—

• (a) Correctly record and explain the transactions of the society or branch; and

• (b) Enable the financial position of the society or branch to be determined with reasonable accuracy at any time; and

• (c) In the case of a society or branch that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, be such as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the society or branch; and

• (d) In the case of a society or branch that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, be such as are necessary to ensure that the financial statements of the society or branch within the meaning of that Act comply with that Act; and

• (e) Enable the accounts of the society or branch to be readily and properly audited.

(3) Any accounting records to be kept by a registered society or branch may be kept either by making entries in bound books or by recording the matters in question in any other manner.

(4) Every society or branch shall take adequate precautions for guarding against falsification of any accounting records and for facilitating the discovery of any such falsification.

(1) Every registered society or branch shall, in respect of each financial year, cause to be prepared—

• (a) Either an income and expenditure account which deals with the affairs of the society or branch as a whole for that year, or 2 or more income and expenditure accounts for that year which deal separately with the particular businesses or activities conducted by the society or branch; and

• (b) A statement of financial position as at the end of that financial year.

(2) Every income and expenditure account of a registered society or branch shall give a true and fair view—

• (a) If it deals with the affairs of the society or branch as a whole, of the income and expenditure of the society or branch as a whole for the period to which the account relates; and

• (b) If it deals with any particular business or activity conducted by the society or branch, of the income and expenditure of the society or branch in respect of that business or activity for the period to which the account relates.

(3) Where that part of subsection (1)(a) of this section relating to 2 or more income and expenditure accounts applies, then, without prejudice to the application of subsection (2)(b) of this section to each income and expenditure account dealing with a particular business or activity conducted by a society or branch, the income and expenditure accounts in question, when considered together, shall give a true and fair view of the income and expenditure of the society or branch as a whole for the financial year to which they relate.

(4) Every statement of financial position of a registered society or branch shall give a true and fair view, as at the date of the statement of financial position, of the state of the affairs of the society or branch.

(5) A registered society or branch shall not publish any income and expenditure account or statement of financial position unless—

• (a) It has been previously audited by the auditor or auditors last appointed to audit the accounts and statement of financial position of the society or branch; and

• (b) It incorporates a report by the auditor or auditors stating whether, in their opinion, it complies with this section; and

• (c) It has been signed by the secretary of the society or branch and either by 2 members of its committee of management acting on behalf of that committee, or by one member of its committee of management acting on behalf of that committee and by one of the trustees of the society or branch.

(6) Nothing in this section applies to a society or branch that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993.

(1) Subject to this section, every registered society and branch shall, in each financial year, appoint a qualified auditor or qualified auditors to audit its accounts and statement of financial position for that year.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to a society or branch if—

• (a) The receipts and payments of that society or branch in respect of the preceding financial year did not, in the aggregate, exceed $20,000; and

• (b) The value of its assets at the end of that year did not, in the aggregate, exceed $20,000.

(3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to a registered branch if—

• (a) The conditions specified in subsection (2)(a) of this section are satisfied in respect of that branch; and

• (b) At the end of the preceding financial year at least 75 percent of its assets had been transferred to the society of which it is a branch or to another registered branch of that society for the purpose of being invested, in accordance with section 50 of this Act, by that society or other branch, and the value of its assets not so transferred did not, in the aggregate, exceed $20,000; and

• (c) The society or branch to which the assets were transferred is one to which subsection (1) of this section applies in the financial year in question.

(4) A registered society or branch to which, by virtue of subsection (2) or subsection (3) of this section, subsection (1) of this section does not apply in respect of any financial year shall, in this Act, be referred to as an exempt society or, as the case may be, an exempt branch, in respect of that financial year.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4) of this section, where the preceding financial year of a registered society or branch was greater than a period of 12 months, as provided under section 59 of this Act, the amount of $20,000 referred to in subsection (2) and subsection (3) of this section shall be increased proportionately.

(6) The Registrar may give a direction in the case of any particular society or branch which is not an exempt society or branch and which has not complied with subsection (1) of this section requiring it to comply with the said subsection within such period as he may specify in the direction; and any society or branch which fails to so comply within the specified time commits an offence against this Act.

(7) The Governor-General, from time to time by Order in Council, may—

• (a) Substitute for any sum or percentage for the time being specified in this section, such sum or percentage as may be specified in the order; and

• (b) Prescribe what receipts and payments of a society shall be taken into account for the purposes of subsection (2) or subsection (3) of this section,—

and any such order may make different provision in relation to different cases or different circumstances.

(1) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, no person shall be qualified for appointment as auditor of a registered society or branch under this Act unless he is—

• (a) A chartered accountant (within the meaning of section 19 of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand Act 1996); or

• (b) A member, fellow, or associate of an association of accountants constituted outside New Zealand which is for the time being approved for the purposes of section 199 of the Companies Act 1993.

(2) The appointment of a partnership by the firm name to be the auditors of a registered society or branch shall be taken to be the appointment of all the persons who are partners in the firm at the time of the appointment.

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall disqualify any person appointed as auditor of a registered society or branch and holding office as such immediately before the commencement of this Act from acting as auditor of that society or branch, or from being at any time and from time to time during a period of 5 years after the commencement of this Act reappointed as auditor of that society or branch.

(4) None of the following persons shall be qualified for appointment as auditor of a registered society or branch:

• (a) An officer or employee of the society or branch:

• (b) A person who is a partner of or in the employment of an officer or employee of the society or branch:

• (c) A body corporate.

(5) Subsections (1) and (4) of this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the rules of any society or branch.

(6) Subject to section 64 of this Act, if a registered society or branch appoints any unqualified person to be an auditor—

• (a) The appointment shall be void, and the Registrar may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy:

• (b) The society or branch, and every officer of the society or branch who is in default, commits an offence against this Act.

(7) Subject to this Act, any unqualified person who acts as auditor of any registered society or branch commits an offence against this Act.

(1) Subject to any direction given by the Registrar under subsection (2) of this section, every exempt society or exempt branch shall, in each financial year, appoint at its option either—

• (a) A qualified auditor or qualified auditors; or

• (b) Two or more persons who are not qualified auditors,—

to audit its accounts and statement of financial position for that year.

(2) The Registrar may give a direction in the case of any particular exempt society or exempt branch in respect of the current financial year requiring it to appoint a qualified auditor or auditors to audit its accounts and statement of financial position for that year.

(3) The Registrar may also give a direction in the case of any particular exempt society or exempt branch in respect of any financial year before that in which the direction is given and did not appoint a qualified auditor or qualified auditors to audit its accounts and statement of financial position for that year—

• (a) Requiring it to appoint a qualified auditor to audit those accounts and that statement of financial position; and

• (b) In any case where that society or branch has sent to him its annual return for that year before the date of the direction, requiring it (after its accounts and statement of financial position have been audited by a qualified auditor) to send to him within 3 months from receipt of the direction, or within such further period as he may allow in any particular case, a further annual return complying with the requirements of this Act (other than the requirement as to the time at which the annual return must be sent).

(1) Subject to this Act, a qualified auditor appointed to audit the accounts and statement of financial position of a registered society or branch for the preceding financial year shall be deemed to be reappointed as auditor of the society for the current financial year unless—

• (a) A resolution has been passed at a general meeting of the society or branch appointing another auditor or other auditors or providing expressly that the present auditor shall not be reappointed; or

• (b) He has given to the society or branch notice in writing of his unwillingness to be reappointed; or

• (c) He is ineligible for appointment as auditor of the society or branch for the current financial year; or

• (d) He has ceased to act as auditor of the society or branch by reason of death or incapacity.

(2) Where notice is given of an intended resolution to appoint at a general meeting some person or persons in place of a retiring auditor or auditors and the resolution cannot be proceeded with at the meeting because of the death or incapacity of that person or persons, or because he or they are ineligible for appointment as auditor or auditors of the society or branch for the current financial year (as the case may be), the retiring auditor shall not be automatically reappointed by virtue of subsection (1) of this section.

(1) For the purposes of section 65(1)(a) of this Act, a resolution at a general meeting of a registered society or branch—

• (a) Appointing another auditor or auditors in place of a retiring qualified auditor; or

• (b) Providing expressly that a retiring qualified auditor shall not be reappointed,—

shall not be effective unless notice of the intention to move the resolution has been given to the society or branch not less than 28 days before the meeting at which it is moved.

(2) Where notice of the intention to move any such resolution has been given under subsection (1) of this section to a society or branch which is required by its rules to give notice to its members of the meeting at which the resolution is to be moved, the society or branch shall, if it is practicable to do so, give them notice of the resolution at the same time and in the same manner as it gives notice of the meeting.

(3) Where notice of the intention to move any such resolution has been given to a registered society or branch under subsection (1) of this section, and that society or branch does not give notice of the resolution under subsection (2) of this section, it shall give notice of the resolution to its members not less than 14 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be moved either by advertisement in a newspaper having an appropriate circulation or in any other way allowed by the rules of the society or branch.

(4) Where—

• (a) For any of the reasons mentioned in section 65(2) of this Act, an intended resolution to appoint another auditor or auditors in place of a retiring qualified auditor cannot be proceeded with at the meeting; and

• (b) By the rules of the registered society or branch an auditor can only be appointed by a resolution passed at a general meeting after notice of the intended resolution has been given to the society or branch before the meeting,—

a resolution passed at that meeting reappointing the retiring auditor or appointing an auditor in place of the retiring auditor shall be effective notwithstanding that no notice of that resolution has been given to the society or branch under its rules.

(5) Any provision in this section which requires notice to be given to the members of a society or branch shall be construed, in the case of a meeting of delegates appointed by members, as requiring the notice to be given to those delegates.

(1) On receipt by a registered society or branch of notice of intention to move a resolution under section 66(1) of this Act, the society or branch shall forthwith send a copy of the notice to the retiring auditor.

(2) On receipt of a copy of such a notice, the retiring auditor may at any time before the date of the general meeting make concise representations in writing to the society or branch with respect to the intended resolution and may also—

• (a) Notify the society or branch that he intends to make such representations; and

• (b) Request that notice of his intention, or of any such representations made by him and received by the society or branch before notice of the intended resolution is given to its members, shall be given to members of the society or branch.

(3) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, a society or branch which receives such representations or such a notification before the date when notice of the intended resolution is required by subsection (2) or (as the case may be) subsection (3) of section 66 of this Act is to be given to its members shall—

• (a) In any notice of the resolution given to its members, state that it has received those representations or that notification (as the case may be); and

• (b) In any such notice, state that any member may receive on demand made before the date of the general meeting a copy of any representations which have been or may be received by the society or branch before that date; and

• (c) Send a copy of any representations received by the society or branch before the date of the meeting to any member on demand made before that date.

(4) Without prejudice either to subsection (3) of this section or to any right to be heard orally, the retiring auditor may also require that any representations made by him before the date of the general meeting shall be read out at the meeting.

(5) Copies of any such representations need not be sent out, and the representations need not be read out at the meeting, if, on the application either of the society or branch or of any other person, the District Court is satisfied that the rights conferred by this section are being abused to secure needless publicity for defamatory matter; and the Court may order the costs of the society or branch on an application under this section to be paid, in whole or in part, by the auditor, notwithstanding that he is not a party to the application.

(6) Any provision in this section which requires notice to be given to the members of a society or branch or confers any right upon a member (as the case may be) shall be construed, in the case of a meeting of delegates appointed by members, as requiring a notice to be given to the delegates so appointed or as conferring the right upon a delegate (as the case may be).

(1) The auditors of a registered society or branch shall make a report to the society or branch on the accounts examined by them and on the income and expenditure account or accounts and the statement of financial position of the society or branch for the financial year in respect of which they are appointed.

(2) The report shall state whether the income and expenditure account or accounts and the statement of financial position for that year comply with the requirements of this Act and whether, in the opinion of the auditors,—

• (a) The income and expenditure account or accounts give a true and fair view, in accordance with section 61 of this Act, of the income and expenditure of the society or branch as a whole for that financial year and, in the case of each such account which deals with a particular business or activity conducted by the society or branch, a true and fair view in accordance with that section of the income and expenditure of the society or branch in respect of that business or activity for that year; and

• (b) The statement of financial position gives a true and fair view, in accordance with that section, of the state of the affairs of the society or branch as at the end of that financial year.

(3) Where the report of the auditors relates to any accounts other than the income and expenditure account or accounts for the financial year in respect of which they are appointed, that report shall state whether those accounts give a true and fair view of any matter to which they relate.

(4) It shall be the duty of the auditors of a registered society or branch, in preparing their report under this section, to carry out such investigations and make such enquiries as will enable them to form an opinion of the following matters:

• (a) Whether the society or branch has kept proper accounting records in accordance with section 60(1)(a) and (2) of this Act; and

• (b) Whether the society or branch has maintained a satisfactory system of control over its transactions in accordance with section 60(1)(b) and section 60(4) of this Act; and

• (c) Whether the income and expenditure account or accounts, the other accounts (if any) to which the report relates, and the statement of financial position are in agreement with the accounting records of the society or branch,—

and, if the auditors are of opinion that the society or branch has failed to comply with paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of section 60(1) or, as the case may be, section 60(4) of this Act, or if the income and expenditure account or accounts, the other accounts (if any) and the statement of financial position are not in agreement with the accounting records of the society or branch, the auditors shall state that fact in their report.

(5) If the auditors fail to obtain all the information and explanations which, to the best of their knowledge and belief, are necessary for the purposes of their audit, they shall state that fact in their report.

(6) Nothing in this section applies to a society or branch that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993.

(1) Every auditor of a registered society or branch—

• (a) Shall have a right of access at all times to the accounting records of the society or branch and to all other documents relating to its affairs; and

• (b) Shall be entitled to require from the officers of the society or branch such information and explanations as he thinks necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors.

(2) The auditors of a registered society or branch shall be entitled—

• (a) To attend any general meeting of the society or branch, and to receive all notices of, and other communications relating to, any general meeting which any member of the society or branch is entitled to receive; and

• (b) To be heard at any meeting which they attend on any part of the business of the meeting which concerns them as auditors.

(1) Every registered society and branch shall once in every year, within 3 months after the close of the financial year of the society or branch or such extended period as the Registrar may in any particular case allow, send to the Registrar an annual return.

(2) Every annual return shall relate to the affairs of the society or branch for the financial year preceding that in which the return is required to be sent, and, subject to subsection (3) of this section, shall be made in such form and contain such particulars as the Registrar may from time to time require.

(3) Every annual return—

• (a) Shall be made up for the financial year to which the return relates; and

• (b) Shall contain—

  • (i) In the case of a society or branch that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, the income and expenditure account or accounts of the society or branch prepared in accordance with section 61(1) of this Act for the financial year to which the return relates and a statement of financial position as at the end of that year; or

  • (ii) In the case of a society or branch that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, the financial statements required to be completed in respect of the issuer and the financial year to which the return relates; and

• (c) Shall not contain any other accounts unless they have been audited by the auditors for the society or branch; and

• (d) Shall have attached a list containing the names, addresses, and designations of the committee of management, the secretary, treasurer, and other principal officers, the trustees, and those persons who are authorised to sue and be sued on behalf of the society or branch; and

• (e) Shall be accompanied by a statement giving details of the total number of members in each category of member as recorded in the register kept pursuant to section 40 of this Act.

(4) In the case of a branch, the annual return, list, and statement shall be sent to the Registrar under the hand of the secretary of the society of which the branch forms part or, alternatively, may be comprised in the annual return of that society.

(5) The annual return to the Registrar shall be accompanied,—

• (a) In the case of a society or branch that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, by the report of the auditors on the income and expenditure account or accounts and statement of financial position contained in the annual return; or

• (b) In the case of a society or branch that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, by the report of the auditors on the financial statements contained in the annual return.

(1) Any registered society or branch which is being terminated by an instrument of dissolution under section 94 or the award of the Registrar under section 95 of this Act shall make up its annual return to the date of that instrument of dissolution or that award.

(2) In the case of a society or branch amalgamating or transferring its engagements pursuant to section 83 of this Act or converting to a company pursuant to section 84 of this Act, the Registrar may require an annual return made up to the date of such amalgamation, transfer of engagements, or conversion, or to such other date as he may specify.

(1) On the application of a member or person interested in its funds a registered society or branch shall supply to him without charge either—

• (a) A copy of the last annual return of the society or branch; or

• (b) A statement of financial position or other document duly audited containing the same particulars relating to the affairs of the society or branch as are contained in the annual return.

(2) Together with every copy of an annual return supplied in accordance with paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, a registered society or branch shall provide—

• (a) In the case of a society or branch that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, a copy of the report of the auditors on the accounts and statement of financial position contained in the return; or

• (b) In the case of a society or branch that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, a copy of the report of the auditors on the financial statements contained in the return.

(3) Together with every statement of financial position or other document supplied in accordance with paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section, a registered society or branch shall provide a copy of the report of the auditors on the statement of financial position or document.

Every registered society or branch shall keep available for inspection (without charge) by a member or person interested in its funds at its office during ordinary office hours,—

• (a) In the case of a society or branch that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, a copy of the last statement of financial position for the time being including the income and expenditure account or accounts for the year to which the balance sheet relates, together with the auditor's report and a copy of the last actuarial report; or

• (b) In the case of a society or branch that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, a copy of the last financial statements completed and signed in accordance with that Act, together with the auditor's report and a copy of the last actuarial report.

(1) Every registered society shall—

• (a) At least once in every 5 years; or

• (b) Sooner, if requested by the Registrar in writing and within the time specified by him,—

cause its assets and liabilities (including the assets and liabilities of its branches) to be valued by an actuary and the financial condition of the society and branches reported on to the Registrar within the time specified.

(2) Every report shall be in such form and contain such particulars as the Registrar may require.

(3) The Registrar may, in writing, exempt wholly or in part from the requirements of subsection (1) of this section any society transacting business in respect of which he thinks those requirements to be inapplicable, and may from time to time review, vary, or revoke any exemption so given.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the Registrar, may at any time, or at such time or times as he may specify, require any registered society to have a report or reports prepared by an actuary in respect of such business of the society and its branches or any of them as he may specify, and to send a copy of that report to him within such time as he may specify.

(5) The requirements of this Act relating to the actuarial valuation shall not apply to benevolent societies or working men's clubs.

It shall be the duty of every branch of a registered society to supply the secretary of the society with all such information as he requires to enable him to prepare the returns he is directed by this Act to furnish to the Registrar, and also with all information required to enable a valuation of the assets and liabilities of the society and its branches to be made or any reports to be prepared in accordance with this Act.

(1) A registered society or branch which has been reported to possess a surplus at the last actuarial valuation may, if the rules of the society so provide and with the consent of the Registrar and subject to such conditions as he may prescribe, appropriate and transfer between any of the funds of the society or, as the case may be, branch so much of the surplus as can be safely and equitably used for all or any of the following purposes:

• (a) An increase in benefits:

• (b) A reduction in the contributions of members:

• (c) Assistance to any fund or funds in deficiency:

• (d) Such other purposes as may properly be determined in accordance with the rules in force at the time of the surplus or as may be subsequently amended for the purpose.

(2) If, in the opinion of the Registrar, the circumstances in any case are exceptional, the registered society or, as the case may be, branch may, if the rules of the society or branch so provide and with the consent of the Registrar and subject to such conditions as he may prescribe, appropriate and transfer so much of any surplus in any fund as can safely and equitably be used for any of the purposes specified in subsection (1) of this section, notwithstanding that the society or branch may not possess a surplus when all its funds are taken into account.

(3) A registered society may, in accordance with subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section, transfer so much of any surplus of a fund as can be safely and equitably used to any deficient fund of any registered branch of the society.

(4) A registered branch of any registered society may, in accordance with subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section, transfer so much of any surplus of a branch fund as can be safely and equitably used to any deficient fund of the society of which it is a branch.

If, after consideration of the actuarial valuation or any report made in respect of any registered society or branch under section 74 of this Act or pursuant to section 7(3)(a) of this Act, it appears to the Registrar to be necessary or desirable that the financial structure of the business or activities or any part of them of that society or branch should be amended or improved, he may advise the society or branch of his opinion and require them to submit to him such proposals (whether by way of increase in the rate of contribution or otherwise) as will effect that financial amendment or improvement.

(1) In this section, the expression dispute—

• (a) Includes any dispute arising on the question whether a member or person aggrieved is entitled to be, or to continue to be, a member or to be reinstated as a member:

• (b) In the case of a person who has ceased to be a member, does not (except as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection) include any dispute other than one on a question between him and the registered society or branch, or an officer thereof, which arose when he was a member, or arises out of his membership of that society or branch.

(2) Subject to this Act, every dispute between—

• (a) A member (unless that member or person is a trustee appointed under section 33(2)(a) of the Securities Act 1978), or person claiming through a member or under the rules of a registered society or branch, and the society or branch or an officer thereof; or

• (b) Any person aggrieved who has ceased to be a member of a registered society or branch, or any person claiming through such person aggrieved (unless that person aggrieved or other person claiming through that person is a trustee appointed under section 33(2)(a) of the Securities Act 1978), and the society or branch or an officer thereof; or

• (c) Any registered branch of any society or branch and the society or branch of which it is a branch; or

• (d) An officer of any such registered branch and the society or branch of which that registered branch is a branch; or

• (e) Any 2 or more registered branches of any society or branch or any officers thereof respectively,—

shall be decided in the manner directed by the rules of the society or branch (including the appointment of an arbitrator or umpire); and the decision so made shall be binding and conclusive on all parties.

(3) Where the rules of a registered society or branch direct that disputes shall be referred to Justices, or to a District Court Judge, or to a District Court, the dispute shall be determined by way of action in a District Court; and the decision of that Court shall be final.

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the rules of any registered society or branch, any party to a dispute of a kind mentioned in section 78(2) of this Act may refer the dispute to the Registrar—

• (a) With the consent of the other party or parties to the dispute:

• (b) Where the rules do not appear to apply in the circumstances of the case.

(2) The Registrar, when a dispute is referred to him and after he is satisfied that every effort has been made to have the dispute decided in the manner directed by the rules (if applicable) of a society or branch (including the appointment of an arbitrator or umpire), may either decline the reference or may hear and determine the dispute, in which case he shall have power to order the expenses of the hearing and determination to be paid either out of the funds of the society or branch or by such parties to the dispute as he may think fit, and may administer oaths and require the attendance of all parties concerned and of witnesses, and the production of all accounting records and other documents relating to the matter in question.

(3) The determination of the Registrar under this section shall have the same effect and be enforceable in the same manner as a decision made pursuant to the rules of the society or branch.

(1) Notwithstanding anything in any other Act, the Registrar, or any arbitrator or umpire to whom a dispute of a kind mentioned in section 78(2) of this Act is referred, shall not be compelled to state a special case on any question of law arising, but may, if he thinks fit, at the request of any party, state a case for the opinion of the High Court.

(2) The Registrar, or any arbitrator or umpire to whom such a dispute is referred, may grant to any party such discovery as to documents and otherwise, or such inspection of documents, as might be granted by the High Court, and the discovery shall be made on behalf of the society or branch by such of their officers as the Registrar, arbitrator, or umpire may determine.

(1) Where, in relation to a dispute of a kind mentioned in section 78(2) of this Act, no decision is made on the dispute within 40 days after application to the registered society or branch in question for a reference under its rules or the Registrar has declined a reference under section 79 of this Act, then, subject to subsection (2) of this section, any person, society, or branch such as is mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) of the said section 78(2) who is a party to the dispute may apply to any Court of competent jurisdiction, and the Court to which the application is made may hear and determine the matter in dispute.

(2) In the case of a society with branches, the period of 40 days referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall not begin to run until application has been made in succession to all the bodies entitled to determine the dispute under the rules of the society or branch; but the rules of the society or branch shall not require a greater delay than 3 months between each successive determination of a dispute by the bodies entitled under the rules to determine the dispute.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the term Court includes a Disputes Tribunal established under the Disputes Tribunals Act 1988.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a special resolution, in relation to a registered society or branch, is a resolution passed—

• (a) At a general meeting of which notice, specifying the intention to propose that resolution, has been duly given in accordance with the rules of the society or branch; and

• (b) By not less than 75 percent of those members of the society for the time being entitled under the society's rules to vote who vote either in person or by proxy at the meeting or, in the case of a meeting of delegates appointed by members, by not less than 75 percent of the votes of the delegates who vote at the meeting.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the rules of a registered society, at any general meeting referred to in this section other than a meeting of delegates, proxy voting shall be permitted on any resolution which, if passed as mentioned in subsection (1) of this section would be a special resolution, and the procedure adopted by a registered society for proxy voting on any such resolution shall comply with such requirements as may from time to time be imposed by the Registrar; but no proxy need be a member of the society in order to cast a valid vote under this section.

(3) A copy of every special resolution signed by the chairman of the meeting and countersigned by the secretary, shall be sent to the Registrar and, subject to subsection (4) of this section, shall forthwith be registered; but until that copy is so registered the special resolution shall not take effect.

(4) Where, in accordance with subsection (3) of this section, there is sent to the Registrar a copy of a special resolution passed at a meeting of a registered friendly society for the purpose of—

• (a) Amalgamating with another registered society or societies; or

• (b) Transferring its engagements to another registered society or company registered under the Companies Act 1955 or the Companies Act 1993, as the case may be—

the Registrar shall not register the copy before the expiry of a period of 6 weeks commencing with the day on which he receives it, or, where objection has been made under section 85 of this Act, he shall not register the copy until the period specified in subsection (3) of that section has expired.

(1) Any 2 or more registered societies may, by special resolution of each of them, become amalgamated together as one society, with or without any dissolution or division of the funds of those societies or any of them.

(2) A registered society may by special resolution transfer its engagements to any other registered society which may (by special resolution or in such other manner as may be authorised by its rules) undertake to fulfil the engagements of that society.

(3) A registered society may by special resolution determine to transfer its engagements to a company registered under the Companies Act 1955 or the Companies Act 1993, as the case may be.

(4) A society which has branches shall not amalgamate or transfer its engagements pursuant to this section except with the consent of the central body of the society.

(5) Before a society amalgamates or transfers its engagements pursuant to this section, information relating to the terms of the proposed amalgamation or transfer shall be given to the members of the society—

• (a) By sending to each member of the society, not less than 14 days before the date of the general meeting at which the resolution for the amalgamation or transfer is to be proposed, a notice the contents of which have been approved for the purpose by the Registrar; or

• (b) If the Registrar so allows in the case of all or any of the members of the society, by placing an advertisement, the contents of which have been approved for the purpose by him, in such newspaper or newspapers, and at such time or times, as he may specify.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) of this section, the information to be given to members shall relate, at the least, to—

• (a) The financial position of the relevant society and that of the other society or societies or company concerned:

• (b) The interest of the officers of the relevant society and of the other society or societies or company concerned in the union or transfer:

• (c) The compensation or other consideration (if any) proposed to be paid to the officers of the relevant society, and of the other society or societies or company concerned:

• (d) The payments (if any) to be made to the members of the relevant society, and of the other society or societies concerned, in consideration of the union or transfer of engagements.

(7) Subject to section 97 of this Act, where a registered society transfers all its engagements to a company registered under the Companies Act 1955 or the Companies Act 1993, as the case may be, the registration of that society under this Act and the registration of its branches shall thereupon become void and shall be cancelled by the Registrar.

(8) Where a registered society transfers part of its engagements to a company registered under the Companies Act 1955 or the Companies Act 1993, as the case may be, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 52 of this Act, the society may, with the approval of the Registrar, hold shares in that company subject to such conditions as the Registrar thinks fit.

(9) No amalgamation or transfer of engagements shall prejudice any right of a creditor of either or any society which is a party thereto.

(1) A registered society may, by special resolution, determine to apply to be registered as a company under the Companies Act 1993.

(2) A society that has branches shall not pass a resolution of the kind referred to in subsection (1) of this section except with the consent of the central body of the society.

(3) A copy of every special resolution passed for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section shall be sent or delivered to the Registrar of Companies together with the application for registration under section 12 of the Companies Act 1993.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) of this section and to section 97 of this Act, if a registered society is registered as a company under the Companies Act 1993, the registration of that society under this Act shall thereupon cease and shall be cancelled by the Registrar.

(5) Registration of a registered society as a company shall not affect any right or claim subsisting against the society or any penalty incurred by the society, and—

• (a) For the purpose of enforcing any such right, claim, or penalty, the society may be sued and proceeded against in the same manner as if it had not become registered as a company:

• (b) Every such right or claim, or the liability to any such penalty, shall have priority as against the property of the company over all other rights or claims against or liabilities of the company.

(1) Where a special resolution has been passed for the amalgamation, or transfer of the engagements, of a registered friendly society—

• (a) Any member of the society may object on the ground that any provision of this Act or of any rules of the society relating to the procedure for deciding on the resolution have not been complied with:

• (b) Any person (whether a member of the society or not) who claims that he is one of a class of persons who to a substantial extent would be adversely affected by the amalgamation or transfer may object on that ground:

• (c) Any person (whether a member of the society or not and whether a creditor or not) who claims to be entitled to receive any form of benefit from the society may object on the ground that he is dissatisfied with the provision made for satisfying his claim.

(2) Every objection under this section shall be made in writing to the Registrar.

(3) No objection under this section shall be made after the expiry of the period of 6 weeks beginning with the date on which the special resolution concerned is received by the Registrar pursuant to section 82(4) of this Act; but where such an objection is properly made, the special resolution shall not be registered until the expiry of the period of 6 weeks or the objection is finally determined or is withdrawn, whichever is the later.

(4) Where an objection is made under this section, the Registrar shall have the same powers to hear and determine it as he has under section 79(2) of this Act in relation to a dispute; and he may either dismiss the objection or, after giving the objector and the registered society concerned an opportunity of being heard, and finding the objection to be justified, he may either—

• (a) So declare, but make no other declaration or order under this subsection; or

• (b) Declare the special resolution to be invalid; or

• (c) Make such order as he thinks fit modifying the terms of the amalgamation or transfer and, where appropriate, specifying the steps which must be taken before the special resolution may be registered under section 82 of this Act,—

and he shall furnish a statement, either written or oral, of the reasons for any decision which he gives under this section.

(5) In the course of proceedings on an objection under this section, the Registrar may, if he thinks fit, at the request of the objector or of the registered society concerned, state a case for the opinion of the High Court on any question of law arising in the proceedings; and the decision of the High Court on a case stated under this subsection shall be final.

(1) If, after notice has been given of a general meeting at which it is proposed to put a special resolution amalgamating or transferring the engagements of the society pursuant to section 83 of this Act or converting the society into a company pursuant to section 84 of this Act, the meeting lapses for want of the quorum specified in the rules of the society, the committee or trustees of the society may apply to the Registrar to confirm the amalgamation, transfer, or conversion as if the special resolution had been properly passed.

(2) Notice of every such application shall be published by the society in the Gazette, and in such newspaper or newspapers as the Registrar may require.

(3) Objections in writing may be made to the Registrar, and for this purpose the provisions of section 85 of this Act, with any necessary modifications, shall apply to the application as if it were a special resolution passed in respect of a friendly society and the date of publication of the application were the date the special resolution was received by the Registrar under subsection (3) of that section.

(1) For the purposes of this Part of this Act,—

• (a) The provisions relating to amalgamation and the transfer of engagements shall, subject to subsection (2) of this section, apply to any registered branch of a society:

• (b) The provisions relating to conversion to a company shall apply to any registered branch of a society,—

but no such amalgamation, transfer of engagements, or conversion shall take place unless in accordance with the rules of the society relating to such matters (if any) to which the branches belong and with the consent of the central body of the society.

(2) No registered branch shall transfer its engagements to a company unless the society of which it is a branch and all other branches of that society also transfer their engagements to the same company at the same time.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, a registered society may, by resolution, determine to become a branch of another registered society or of any registered branch of that other society.

(2) A resolution under this section shall be passed in the same manner as if it were a special resolution specified under section 82(1) of this Act with the words “a majority” substituted for the words “75 percent” in both places where they occur in paragraph (b) of that subsection.

(3) If the rules of the society do not comply with all the provisions of this Act in respect of the registration of branches, the meeting at which the resolution is passed may amend the rules so as to bring them into compliance with this Act.

(4) Where a resolution under this section has been passed at a general meeting of a registered society, there shall be sent to the Registrar—

• (a) A copy of the rules of the society marked to show the amendments (if any) made at the meeting; and

• (b) a copy of the resolution and of any such amendment of rules, each being signed by the chairman of the meeting and by the secretary of the society and countersigned by the secretary of the society or branch of which it is to become a branch.

(5) If the Registrar finds that the rules of a society, with or without any such amendment, comply with the provisions of this Part of this Act, he shall—

• (a) Without further request or notice, cancel the registration of the society and register it as a branch of the other society referred to in the resolution and also, if it is so specified in that resolution, of any branch of that other society; and

• (b) Without further application or evidence, register any such amendment of rules,—

and until such registration the resolution shall not take effect.

(6) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, publication of a notice of any cancellation of registration under this section shall not be required.

(7) The rules of a society which becomes a branch under this section shall, so far as they are not contrary to any express provision of this Part of this Act and subject to any amendment made under the preceding provisions of this section, continue in force as the rules of the branch until amended.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, upon the application of—

• (a) One-fifth of the whole number of members of a registered society which, including its branches, does not have more than 1,000 members; or

• (b) Two hundred members in the case of a society which, including its branches, has more than 1,000 members,—

or of his own volition in respect of any particular registered society or branch, the Registrar may—

• (c) Appoint one or more inspectors to investigate the affairs of the society or any branch, and to report thereon; or

• (d) Call a special meeting of the society or branch; or

• (e) Do both of those things, whether on the same or on different occasions.

(2) Where an application is made under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section by a society having branches, the Registrar shall confer with the central body of the society before proceeding further with the application.

(3) Where such an application is made by the requisite number of members, the following provisions shall apply:

• (a) The application shall be supported by such evidence as the Registrar may direct for the purpose of showing that the applicants have good reason for requiring an investigation or a special meeting, as the case may be, and that they are not actuated by malice in making the application:

• (b) Such notice of the application shall be given to the society or branch by the applicants or one or more of them as the Registrar may direct:

• (c) The Registrar may require the applicants to give security for the costs of the proposed investigation or meeting before the inspector is appointed or the meeting is called:

• (d) All expenses of and incidental to the investigation or meeting shall be defrayed by the applicants, or out of the funds of the society or branch, or by the members or officers or former members or officers of the society or branch, in such proportions as the Registrar may direct.

(4) Where acting under subsection (1) of this section of his own volition, the Registrar may direct that all or any of the expenses of and incidental or preliminary to the investigation or meeting shall be defrayed out of the funds of the society, or by the members or officers, or former members or officers, of the society in such proportions as he may direct.

(5) An inspector appointed under this section may examine or require the production of all or any accounting records or documents of the society or branch (and for that purpose the provisions of section 8 of this Act shall apply); and may examine on oath any of its officers, members, agents, and employees, and may administer an oath accordingly.

(6) Notwithstanding anything in the rules of a society or branch, where a special meeting is called under this section—

• (a) The Registrar may direct at what time and place the meeting is to be held, and what matters are to be discussed and determined at the meeting, and may give such other directions as he thinks fit with respect to the calling, holding, and conduct of the meeting:

• (b) The Registrar may appoint a person to be chairman at the meeting; and if he does not do so the meeting may appoint its own chairman:

• (c) The meeting shall have all the powers of a meeting called according to the rules of the society or branch.

(1) If, after an investigation carried out or meeting held pursuant to section 89 of this Act, or otherwise howsoever, it appears to the Registrar that it is in the best interests of members of the society or of the public that the society should be put into liquidation, then, unless the society has already been put into liquidation, the Registrar may apply to the High Court for the society to be put into liquidation in accordance with the Companies Act 1993 if the Court thinks it just and equitable that this should be done.

(2) The provisions of this section shall apply in relation to a branch of a registered society as they apply in relation to such a society.

(1) Nothing in section 90 of this Act shall apply to or affect the winding up of a society commenced before the commencement of the Company Law Reform (Transitional Provisions) Act 1994 or anything done by or in relation to a society under Part 6 of the Companies Act 1955 before the commencement of that Act, and section 90 of this Act and Part 6 of the Companies Act 1955, as in force before the commencement of that Act, shall continue in force in relation thereto as if that Act had not been passed.

(2) In the liquidation of a society under Part 16 of the Companies Act 1993, nothing in any of sections 292 to 299 of that Act applies in relation to any transaction entered into by a society, or any matter that arose, before the commencement of the Company Law Reform (Transitional Provisions) Act 1994, but sections 309, 310, 311, 311A, 311B, and 311C of the Companies Act 1955, as in force before the commencement of that Act, shall continue to apply in respect of that transaction or matter as if that Act had not been passed.

(1) Subject to this section, the Registrar may, if he considers it expedient to do so in the interests of the members of a registered society or the public, give a direction forbidding the society to accept any new members or to enter into a new contract with any of its members.

(2) Not less than one month before giving a direction under subsection (1) of this section the Registrar shall give the society notice in writing that he proposes to do so, and shall set out in the notice his reasons for doing so.

(3) The Registrar shall consider any representations with respect to a notice under subsection (2) of this section which may be made to him by the society within such period (being not less than one month) as he may allow from the date on which the society is given the notice or such further period as he may allow, and, if the society so requests, shall afford it an opportunity of being heard by him within that period or further period.

(4) Where the Registrar gives a direction under subsection (1) of this section he shall give the society notice in writing of the direction setting out his reasons for doing so; but he shall not give such a direction unless all the reasons set out were those, or were among those, which were set out in the notice given to the society under subsection (2) of this section.

(5) Notice of the giving of a direction under subsection (1) of this section shall be published by the Registrar in the Gazette and in some newspaper in general circulation in the neighbourhood of the registered office of the society.

(6) A direction given under this section may be revoked by the Registrar, and notice of the revocation shall be published in the same manner as notice of the giving of the direction.

(7) A society may, within one month after the date of publication of a direction in the Gazette under subsection (5) of this section, appeal to the High Court against the whole or any part of the direction; but, until the appeal is determined, the direction shall have effect according to its tenor.

(8) The provisions of this section shall apply in relation to a branch of a registered society as they apply in relation to such a society.

(1) Subject to this section, the Registrar may suspend for any term not exceeding 3 months and may from time to time renew the suspension for any term not exceeding 3 months each time or may cancel the registration of a society or branch if he is satisfied—

• (a) That registration has been obtained for the society or branch by fraud or mistake; or

• (b) That the society or branch exists for an illegal purpose; or

• (c) That the society or branch has wilfully, and after notice from the Registrar, contravened any of the provisions of this Act; or

• (d) That the society or branch has not commenced business within one year of registration or has voluntarily suspended business for more than 6 months; or

• (e) That the society or branch has less than 7 adult members; or

• (f) That the society or branch has ceased to exist; or

• (g) That, at the request of the society or branch, there is good reason for the cancellation or suspension.

(2) Any cancellation or suspension of registration under this section shall be effected under the seal of the Registrar.

(3) Before cancelling or suspending the registration of a society or branch under this section, the Registrar shall give to the society or, as the case may be, branch not less than 2 months' notice in writing, specifying briefly the reasons for the proposed cancellation or suspension, except no notice need be given in the case of—

• (a) A cancellation or suspension pursuant to subsection (1)(f) or (g) of this section; or

• (b) The renewal of a suspension for a further period under subsection (1) of this section.

(4) The Registrar shall consider any representations with respect to the proposed cancellation or suspension that may be made to him by the society or branch within the said period of 2 months or such further period as he may allow, and, if the society or branch so requests, shall afford it an opportunity of being heard by him within such period or further period allowed.

(5) A notice of every such cancellation or every such suspension or renewal of suspension shall as soon as practicable be published in the Gazette and in some newspaper in general circulation in the neighbourhood of the registered office of the society or branch.

(6) A society or branch may,—

• (a) Within one month after receiving notice from the Registrar, appeal to the High Court from the cancellation of its registration:

• (b) Within one month after receiving notice from the Registrar that its suspension has been renewed where such renewal will exceed a total term of suspension of 6 months, appeal to the High Court from that renewal.

(7) A society or branch whose registration has been cancelled under this section, and every registered branch of any such society or branch, shall from the time of the cancellation (but subject to the right of appeal given under subsection (6) of this section) be deemed to be no longer registered under this Act.

(8) Such cancellation shall not relieve any society or branch, or any officer, from any liability previously incurred, and any such liability may be enforced as if the cancellation had not taken place.

(9) A society whose registration has been suspended, and every registered branch thereof, shall during the period of suspension (but subject to the right of appeal given under subsection (6) of this section) absolutely cease to enjoy as such the privileges of a registered society or branch, but shall for all other purposes be deemed to continue to be a duly registered society or branch.

(1) Subject to this section, a registered society or branch may terminate or be dissolved in any of the following ways:

• (a) Upon the happening of any event declared by the rules to lead to the termination of the society or branch; or

• (b) By the consent of not less than 75 percent of the members of the society or banch testified by their signatures to the instrument of dissolution and also, in the case of a branch of a society, with the consent of the central body of the society and in accordance with the society's rules; or

• (c) By the award of the Registrar under section 95 of this Act.

(2) A society which has branches shall not be dissolved except with the consent of the central body of the society.

(3) If any member of a registered friendly society or branch in respect of which an instrument of dissolution has been registered in accordance with section 94 of this Act, or if any person claiming any relief, annuity, or other benefit from the funds of such a society or branch is dissatisfied with the provision made for satisfying his claim, he may within the period of 3 months referred to in subsection (6) of that section, make an application to any Court of competent jurisdiction, and the Court to which the application is made may hear and determine the matter.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) of this section, the term Court includes a Disputes Tribunal established under the Disputes Tribunals Act 1988.

(5) If, as a result of the dissolution of any registered friendly society or branch, any annuity ceases or would cease to be paid or any contract for the payment of an annuity fails or would fail either in whole or in part, no payment shall be made out of the funds of the society or branch to the annuitant or person entitled to the benefit of the contract; but any sum which would otherwise have been paid to that person shall be applied in purchasing for the benefit of the annuitant an annuity (for a similar term and subject to similar conditions against surrender, commutation, or assignment) from any person lawfully carrying on a business in New Zealand of granting annuities on human life.

(1) When a registered society or branch is terminated by an instrument of dissolution, the instrument shall set forth—

• (a) The liabilities and assets of the society or branch in detail:

• (b) The number of members, and the nature of their interests in the society or branch:

• (c) The claims of creditors (if any), and the provision to be made for their payment:

• (d) The intended appropriation or division of the funds and property of the society or branch, unless it is expressly stated in the instrument that the appropriation or division shall be left to the award of the Registrar.

(2) Alterations in the instrument of dissolution may be made with the consent in writing of not less than 75 percent of the members of the society or branch and also, in the case of a branch of a society or in the case of a society with branches, with the consent of the central body of the society.

(3) A statutory declaration that the provisions of this Act have been complied with shall be made either by one of the trustees or by 3 adult members and the secretary of the society or branch, and shall be sent to the Registrar with the instrument of dissolution.

(4) The instrument of dissolution and all alterations to it shall be registered in the manner, with any necessary modifications, provided by sections 23 to 25 of this Act for the registration of amendments of rules, and shall be binding upon all the members of the society or branch.

(5) The instrument of dissolution shall not, in the case of a registered friendly society or branch, direct or contain any provision for a division or appropriation of the funds of the society or branch, or any part thereof, except for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of the society or branch as declared in their rules, unless the claim of every member or person claiming any relief, annuity, or other benefit from the funds of the society or branch is first duly satisfied or adequate provision is made for satisfying those claims.

(6) The Registrar shall, as soon as practicable, cause a notice of the dissolution to be advertised at the expense of the society or branch in the Gazette and in some newspaper in general circulation in the neighbourhood of the registered office of the society or branch; and unless—

• (a) Within 3 months from the date of the Gazette in which that advertisement appears a member or other person interested in or having any claim on the funds of the society or branch commences proceedings to set aside the dissolution of the society or branch; and

• (b) That dissolution is set aside accordingly,—

the society or branch shall, subject to section 97 of this Act, be legally dissolved from the date of the advertisement in the Gazette, and the requisite consents to the instrument of dissolution shall be deemed to have been duly obtained without proof of the signatures thereto.

(1) On receipt of an application under this section relating to a registered society or branch and after giving not less than one month's notice in writing to the society or branch, the Registrar may cause the affairs of the society or branch to be investigated.

(2) An application under this section shall be made in writing under the hands of the like proportion or number of members as are required for the making of an application to appoint inspectors under section 89(1) and (2) of this Act and shall—

• (a) State that the funds of the society or branch are insufficient to meet the existing claims on them, or that the rates of contribution fixed in the rules of the society or branch are insufficient to cover the benefits assured; and

• (b) Set forth the reasons for which the insufficiency is alleged; and

• (c) Request an investigation into the affairs of the society or branch with a view to its dissolution.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) of this section and, in the case of a society with branches, to the Registrar first conferring with the central body of the society, if upon an investigation under this section it appears that the funds of the society or branch are insufficient to meet the existing claims on them, or that the rates of contribution fixed in the rules of the society or branch are insufficient to cover the benefits assured to be given by the society or branch, the Registrar may, if he thinks fit, award that the society or branch be dissolved and its affairs wound up, and where such an award is made the Registrar shall direct in what manner the assets of the society or branch shall be divided or appropriated.

(4) Where the Registrar makes an award under subsection (3) of this section, he may suspend its operation for such period as he thinks necessary to enable the society or branch to make such alterations and adjustments of contributions and benefits as will, in his judgment, prevent the necessity of the award of dissolution coming into operation; and where within that period the society makes such alterations and adjustments the Registrar may cancel the award.

(5) The Registrar proceeding under this section shall have the same powers, enforceable by the same penalties, as he has in the case of a dispute referred to him under this Act.

(6) Within 21 days after the making of an award of dissolution of a society or branch, the Registrar shall cause notice of the award of dissolution to be advertised in the Gazette and in some newspaper in general circulation in the neighbourhood of the registered office of the society or branch; and unless—

• (a) Within 3 months from the date on which that advertisement appears in the Gazette, a member or other person interested in or having any claim on the funds of the society or branch commences proceedings to set aside the dissolution of the society or branch consequent upon the award; and

• (b) The dissolution is set aside accordingly,—

the society or branch shall, subject to section 97 of this Act, be legally dissolved from the date of the advertisement in the Gazette, and the requisite consents to the application under this section shall be deemed to have been duly obtained without proof of the signatures thereto.

(7) The expenses of every investigation and award under this section and of advertising every notice of dissolution shall be paid out of the funds of the society or branch before any other appropriation is made.

(8) Every award under this section shall be final and conclusive on—

• (a) The society or branch in respect of which the award is made; and

• (b) All members of that society or branch; and

• (c) All other persons having any claim on the funds of that society or branch,—

and every such award shall be enforced in the same manner as a decision on a dispute under this Act.

(1) Where any person takes proceedings to set aside the dissolution of a society or branch, he shall give notice of the proceedings to the Registrar not later than the expiry of whichever of the following periods first expires:

• (a) The period of 7 days after the commencement of the proceedings:

• (b) The period of 3 months referred to in section 94(6)(a) or, as the case may require, section 95(6)(a) of this Act.

(2) Where an order is made setting aside the dissolution of a society or branch, the society or branch shall give notice of the order to the Registrar within 7 days after the order is made.

Where a registered society or branch amalgamates or transfers its engagements pursuant to section 83 of this Act, converts to a company pursuant to section 84 of this Act, or is to be dissolved in accordance with section 94 or section 95 of this Act, the society shall not be dissolved, and the registration of the society shall not be cancelled, until there has been lodged with the Registrar a certificate signed by the liquidator or by the secretary or some other officer of the society approved by the Registrar that all property vested in the society has been duly conveyed or transferred by the society to the persons entitled.

(1) No person, society, or body of persons (whether corporate or unincorporate) shall trade or carry on business as a credit union unless registered as such under this Part of this Act.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, to trade or carry on business as a credit union means—

• (a) Administering a fund into which members of a group contribute money which is to be applied either wholly or principally in loans to those members:

• (b) Representing the person, society, or body of persons as being a credit union:

• (c) Using, in reference to the person, society, or body of persons, any name, title, or descriptive expression containing the words “credit union”, “money club”, “savings society”, or “loan society”, or any cognate term or any derivative of those words, when trading, carrying on business, or advertising for share capital, deposits, or loan funds.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2)(c) of this section shall apply to—

• (a) The use by an officer or employee of a credit union of a title or descriptive expression indicating his office or post with the credit union; or

• (b) The use with reference to an Association of credit unions of a name which has been approved in writing by the Registrar.

(1) Section 98 of this Act shall not apply to—

• (a) Any person, society, or body of persons (whether corporate or unincorporate) specified in Schedule 5 to this Act; or

• (b) Any person, society, or body of persons (whether corporate or unincorporate) lawfully carrying on the business of banking; or

• (c) Any building society registered under the Building Societies Act 1965; or

• (d) Any unit trust within the meaning of the Unit Trusts Act 1960; or

• (e) The members of any fund in existence as at the commencement of this Act, being a fund which may otherwise be trading or carrying on business as a credit union but which is an integral part of an associated commercial or trading activity involving those members.

(2) Schedule 5 to this Act may, from time to time by the Governor-General by Order in Council, be amended by adding, omitting, or amending the name of any person, society, or body of persons (whether corporate or unincorporate).

(3) No person, society, or body of persons to which, by virtue of subsection (1) of this section, section 98 of this Act does not apply shall use, in reference to itself, any name, title, or descriptive expression containing the words “credit union”, “money club”, “savings society”, or “loan society”, or any cognate term or any derivative of those words:

Provided that the prohibition effected by this subsection shall not apply to any person, society, or body of persons using the words “savings society” or “loan society” or any cognate term or derivative of those words in reference to itself as at the commencement of this Act.

Subject to this Act, a society may apply for registration as a credit union under this Part of this Act if—

• (a) the society has no fewer than 21 members who are—

  • (i) adults; or

  • (ii) charitable entities as defined by the Charities Act 2005; or

  • (iii) incorporated societies registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908; and

• (b) The rules of the society comply with section 104 of this Act; and

• (c) The Registrar is satisfied that the only objects of the society are those of a credit union specified in section 101 of this Act; and

• (d) the rules of the society specify a common bond (as defined in section 102).

(1) The objects of a credit union shall be—

• (a) The promotion of thrift among its members by the accumulation of their savings; and

• (b) The use and control of the members' savings for their mutual benefit; and

• (c) The training and education of the members in the wise use of money and in the management of their financial affairs; and

• (d) At the discretion of the credit union and as a minor adjunct to the other objects set out in this subsection, the welfare of its members and the making of donations for charitable, cultural, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes.

(2) A credit union shall have no power to take any action or do anything unless that action or thing is directly in pursuance of its objects or incidental to them and is authorised by its rules or this Act.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a credit union has a common bond if the qualification for membership is—

• (a) following a particular occupation or particular occupations:

• (b) residing in a particular locality or particular localities:

• (c) being employed in a particular locality or particular localities:

• (d) being employed by a particular employer or particular employers:

• (e) being a member of a bona fide organisation or bona fide organisations or being otherwise associated with members of the organisation or organisations for a purpose other than that of forming a society to be registered as a credit union:

• (f) any other qualification that can be objectively determined:

• (g) a mixture of any qualifications in paragraphs (a) to (f).

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a qualification can be objectively determined if it—

• (a) includes every person who fulfills the qualification; and

• (b) is able to be determined by a person who is not a member of the credit union; and

• (c) does not depend on any person's subjective judgement.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, if the rules of a credit union so provide, a person shall be treated as fulfilling a qualification for admission to membership stated in those rules if he is a member of the same household as, and is a relative of, another person who is a member of the credit union and fulfils that qualification directly.

(4) In subsection (3), relative, in relation to any person, means—

• (a) any current or former spouse, civil union partner or de facto partner of the person; and

• (b) any lineal ancestor, lineal descendant, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or first cousin of the person or of any current or former spouse, civil union partner, or de facto partner of the person; and

• (c) any current or former spouse, civil union partner, or de facto partner of any person referred to in paragraph (b).

Except where otherwise authorised in writing by the Registrar in the circumstances of any case, the name of every society registered as a credit union shall contain the words credit union.

(1) The provisions of sections 12, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24(1), 25, 26, 27, and 28 of this Act shall, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modification, apply in respect of credit unions as if—

• (a) The references to societies and the Second or Schedule 3 were references to credit unions and Schedule 4 respectively; and

• (b) the reference in section 12(1) to 7 adult members were a reference to 21 members and each of the 21 members is—

  • (i) an adult; or

  • (ii) a charitable entity as defined by the Charities Act 2005; or

  • (iii) an incorporated society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908; and

• (c) The designation referred to in section 17(1)(a) were that of a credit union.

(2) On any application for registration of a credit union or its rules or an amendment to its rules, the Registrar may require from the applicant such information or evidence as may be reasonable to show that the applicant will be or is bona fide carrying on the business of a credit union in accordance with this Part of this Act.

(3) Except where there is a change in the situation of the registered office of a credit union or a change to the rules effected by the Registrar pursuant to section 26 of this Act or a change of name, the rules of a credit union shall be amended only by special resolution.

(1) The rules of a credit union shall bind the credit union and its members and all persons claiming through them respectively to the same extent as if each member had subscribed his name, and there were in such rules a covenant on the part of himself, his executors, and administrators to conform to such rules subject to the provisions of this Act.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, all money payable by a member to a credit union shall be deemed to be a debt due from the member to the credit union, and shall be recoverable as such.

(3) A member of a credit union shall not, without his consent in writing having been first obtained, be bound by any amendment of the credit union's rules registered after he became a member, if and so far as that amendment requires him to take or subscribe for more shares than the number held by him at the date of registration of the amendment, or to pay upon the shares so held any sum exceeding the amount unpaid upon them at that date, or in any other way increases the liability of that member to contribute to the share capital of the credit union.

(4) Fees for admission to membership, or levies, or charges for management or other services are payable by a member to a credit union only if the rules of the credit union set out—

• (a) the amount of the fees, levies, or charges; or

• (b) the mechanism for charging the fees, levies, or charges.

(1) An individual, a charitable entity as defined by the Charities Act 2005, or an incorporated society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 can be a member of a credit union, except that—

• (a) section 39 (which relates to the membership of minors) applies to any credit union as if it were a society registered under Part 2; and

• (b) no charitable entity as defined by the Charities Act 2005 or incorporated society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 can be an officer of a credit union.

(2) Members need have no more than $10 in fully paid-up shares, although a credit union's rules may allow for a deposit of more or less than $10 in fully paid-up shares.

(3) A member of a credit union shall not have or claim any interest in the shares of the credit union exceeding $40,000 or such other amount as the Governor-General may, from time to time, by Order in Council declare.

(4) A member of a credit union who ceases to fulfil the qualifications for admission to membership shall be entitled, subject to subsection (5) of this section, to retain his membership unless the rules of the credit union provide otherwise; and in this Act, the term non-qualifying member, in relation to a credit union, means a person who remains a member of the credit union by virtue of this subsection:

Provided that, where the rules of the credit union so provide, a member shall not cease to fulfil the qualifications for membership by reason merely of retirement from following a particular occupation or employment with a particular employer.

(5) The number of non-qualifying members of a credit union shall not at any time exceed 10 percent of the total membership of the credit union.

(6) Non-qualifying members of a credit union shall be left out of account in determining for any purpose whether a common bond exists between the members of the credit union.

(7) A non-qualifying member of a credit union shall be entitled, except so far as the rules of the credit union may otherwise provide, to purchase shares and, subject to section 110(6) of this Act, to receive loans.

(8) Subject to any provision in the rules of a credit union as to voting by a chairman who has a casting vote or to voting by delegates at any conference or meeting relating to credit unions, on every matter which is determined by a vote of members of a credit union every member shall be entitled to vote and shall have one vote only.

(1) Every credit union shall have shares, which shall all rank equally and be of a fixed amount of $1 denomination and may, subject to the rules of the credit union, be subscribed for either in full or by periodical or other subscriptions; but no share shall be allotted to a member until it has been fully paid in cash.

(2) Shares in a credit union shall not be transferable and a credit union shall not issue to a member a certificate denoting ownership of a share.

(3) The rules of a credit union may provide for a share to be held by 2 or more members jointly; but, for the purposes of this Act, one of those joint holders (to be ascertained in the manner provided in the rules) shall be deemed to be the member to whom the share was allotted and to whom the provisions of this Act apply accordingly.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, shares in a credit union shall be withdrawable; but a credit union shall not issue shares except on terms enabling it to require not less than 60 days' notice of withdrawal.

(5) If a withdrawal of shares would reduce a member's paid-up shareholding in the credit union to less than his total liability (including any contingent liability) to the credit union whether as borrower, guarantor, or otherwise, then—

• (a) In the case of a non-qualifying member, the withdrawal shall not be permitted; and

• (b) In any other case, the withdrawal shall be permitted only at the discretion of the committee of management of the credit union.

(1) Subject to section 109 of this Act, a credit union shall not accept a deposit from any person, except by way of subscription for its shares.

(2) In this section, the term deposit means a sum of money paid on terms—

• (a) Under which it will be repaid, with or without interest or at a premium, and either on demand or at a time or in circumstances agreed by or on behalf of the person making the payment and the credit union; and

• (b) Which are not referable to the provision of property or services or to the giving of security.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) of this section, money is paid on terms which are referable to the provision of property or services or to the giving of security only if—

• (a) It is paid by way of advance or part-payment for the sale, hire, or other provision of property or services of any kind and is repayable only in the event that the property or services is or are not in fact sold, hired, or otherwise provided; or

• (b) It is paid by way of security for payment for the provision of property or services of any kind provided or to be provided by the credit union; or

• (c) It is paid by way of security for the delivery up or return of any property, whether in a particular state of repair or otherwise.

(4) A deposit taken in contravention of this section shall not affect any civil liability arising in respect of the deposit or the money deposited.

(1) Except as provided in this Act and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the rules of a credit union, no credit union shall be entitled to borrow money nor shall any person lend money to any credit union.

(2) Any bank carrying on business in New Zealand may grant, and any credit union may receive, accommodation by way of overdraft in aid of any account established with that bank by that credit union, and that account may be overdrawn accordingly for a term not exceeding 6 months at any one time unless a longer term or an extension of an existing term is authorised in writing by the Registrar.

(3) A credit union may also borrow money from another credit union or credit unions or an Association of credit unions or, where the common bond for membership of the credit union is membership of a registered friendly society, that friendly society if its rules so provide, for any continuous period not exceeding one year at any one time unless a longer term or an extension of an existing term is authorised in writing by the Registrar.

(4) Every credit union which has borrowed (for purposes other than for the provision of assets of a capital nature pursuant to section 113 of this Act) and not repaid any amount or amounts which at any time exceeds in the aggregate 30 percent of its paid-up capital or, in the case of an Association of credit unions, its deposits, commits an offence against this Act.

(5) A person dealing with a credit union shall not be obliged to satisfy himself or to inquire whether the limit on borrowing by that credit union imposed by subsection (4) of this section has been or is being observed; but if a person who lends money to a credit union or takes security in connection with such a loan has, at the time when the loan is made or the security is given, actual notice of the fact that the limit has been or is being exceeded, the debt or security shall be unenforceable.

(6) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, no transaction with a credit union shall be invalid or ineffectual solely by reason of the fact that the limit on borrowing by that credit union imposed by subsection (4) of this section has been or is being exceeded.

(7) Where money borrowed by a credit union is not repaid on written demand on the date on which repayment is due, the credit union shall not make any loans or permit the withdrawal of any shares (or, in the case of an Association of credit unions, deposits) until the repayment is made; and every credit union which makes such loans or permits such withdrawals commits an offence against this Act.

Regardless of anything to the contrary in the rules of a credit union, a credit union may appoint a trustee and sign or amend a trust deed for the purposes of section 33(2) of the Securities Act 1978.

(1) Subject to this section, a credit union may make loans to members for such purposes and upon such security (or without security) and conditions as the rules of the credit union may provide either generally or specifically.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the rules of a credit union may contain provisions fixing the maximum amount by which the indebtedness of a member of the credit union may exceed the total amount of the member's paid-up share capital in the credit union.

(3) The maximum indebtedness of a member in respect of an unsecured loan (whether wholly unsecured or, in the case of a loan which is partly secured and partly unsecured, that part which is unsecured) shall, at the time the loan is made, be an amount not exceeding 5 percent of the amount shown as the value of the assets of the credit union in the latest statement of financial position of the credit union lodged with the Registrar in accordance with this Act or, where a first statement of financial position has not yet been lodged, an amount which, in the opinion of the committee, fairly represents the value of the assets of the credit union.

(4) The maximum indebtedness of a member in respect of a secured loan shall, at the time the loan is made, be an amount not exceeding 10 percent of the amount shown as the value of the assets of the credit union in the latest statement of financial position of the credit union lodged with the Registrar in accordance with this Act or, where a first statement of financial position has not yet been lodged, an amount which, in the opinion of the committee, fairly represents the value of the assets of the credit union.

(5) A credit union shall not make a loan jointly to 2 or more members of the credit union if the amount of that loan would exceed an amount that would, if each of those members had applied individually for a loan, be the larger or largest of the amount of the loans which could have been made to any one of those members.

(6) Subject to this section, a credit union shall not make a loan to a non-qualifying member if the making of the loan would cause that member's total liability (including contingent liability) to the credit union, whether as borrower, guarantor, or otherwise, to exceed his total paid up shareholding in the credit union at that time.

(7) The maximum period within which a loan by a credit union must be repaid shall be 10 years in the case of a secured loan and 5 years in the case of an unsecured loan, or such other periods as may from time to time be approved by the Registrar upon application in respect of any particular credit union.

(8) In subsection (1) of this section, the term security includes the giving of security by way of mortgage, guarantee, or promissory note or notes.

(1) Notwithstanding section 110 of this Act, the Minister may from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, fix in relation to credit unions generally, or in relation to a particular credit union, or credit unions of a particular class, the maximum amount of any loan, secured or unsecured, made by the credit union to a member, or the total amount that may be outstanding on loans to members.

(2) Every credit union that makes a loan in contravention of the terms of any notice given under subsection (1) of this section commits an offence against this Act.

(1) All property belonging to a credit union shall vest in the trustees for the time being of the credit union for the use and benefit of its members, and of all persons claiming through the members according to the rules of the credit union.

(1A) However, regardless of the rules of a credit union, if a trustee has been appointed in respect of a security under section 33(2)(a) of the Securities Act 1978, then that trustee may exercise any rights it has under that Act in respect of the property of the credit union.

(2) Upon the death, resignation, or removal of a trustee of a credit union the property vested in that trustee shall, without conveyance, transfer, or assignment, vest (subject to the same trusts) in the succeeding trustees of that credit union, either solely or together with any surviving or continuing trustees, and until the appointment of succeeding trustees pursuant to section 28(2) (as applied by section 104) of this Act, in the surviving or continuing trustees only, or in the executors or administrators of the last surviving or continuing trustee.

(3) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, the following provisions of this Act shall, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modification, apply in respect of credit unions as if they were societies registered under Part 2 of this Act:

• (a) Section 29(4) (which relates to the denoting of trustees by their official titles); and

• (b) Section 30 (which relates to trustees under a disability); and

• (c) Section 31 (which relates to the delegation of duties by a trustee); and

• (d) Section 32 (which requires a District Land Registrar to be advised of the names of trustees); and

• (e) Section 33 (which relates to dealing with land under the Land Transfer Act 1952).

(1) A credit union may, in the name of its trustees, for the purpose of conducting its business thereon or therein but, subject to subsection (4) of this section, for no other purpose, purchase, hold, take on lease, or otherwise provide—

• (a) Any land, and may sell, exchange, mortgage, or lease any such land, and erect, equip, furnish, alter, and maintain, or pull down buildings on it:

• (b) Any building or part of a building, and equip, furnish, alter, and maintain, or pull down any such building.

(2) A credit union shall have power to hold any interest in land so far as is necessary for the purpose of making loans to its members on the security of an interest in land and of enforcing any such security.

(3) Where a credit union acquires an interest in land by the exercise of any right which it has as a creditor or under a security, it shall sell that interest as soon as may be practicable but in any case within 6 months after acquiring the interest or within such further period as may be allowed by the Registrar upon application in any particular case.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the Minister may authorise a credit union to erect buildings on land held by it to be used otherwise than for the purpose of conducting its business therein if the Minister is satisfied that such authority is necessary to enable the economic use of the land or to provide for the credit union's accommodation requirements in the future.

(5) Every credit union which holds land in contravention of this section commits an offence against this Act.

(6) Notwithstanding subsection (5) of this section, where, as at the commencement of this Act, any credit union holds any land or building that, except for this subsection, would otherwise be held in contravention of this section, the Minister may, subject to such conditions as he may impose, authorise the credit union to retain that land or building without thereby committing an offence against this Act.

(7) No purchaser, assignee, mortgagee, or tenant shall be bound to inquire as to the authority for any sale, exchange, mortgage, or lease by the trustees, and the receipt of the trustees shall be a discharge for all money arising from or in connection with the sale, exchange, mortgage, or lease.

(8) Subject, in the case of an instrument affecting land under the Land Transfer Act 1952, to the provisions of section 33 (as applied by section 112(3)(e)) of this Act, every document to be executed by a credit union in the exercise of any powers conferred on it by this section may (if its rules so provide) be executed by a majority of the trustees in whom the property of the credit union is vested.

(1) Before taking upon himself the execution of his office, every officer of a credit union having the receipt or charge of money shall, notwithstanding any rule of the credit union to the contrary, give security in accordance with subsection (2) of this section for his rendering a just and true account of all sums of money received and paid by him on account of the credit union at such times as its rules appoint, or as the credit union or its trustees or committee require him to do, and for the payment by him of all sums due from him to the credit union.

(2) Where an officer of a credit union is required to give security in accordance with subsection (1) of this section, he shall do so—

• (a) By becoming bound with at least one sufficient surety in such form of bond as may from time to time be prescribed by the Registrar for the purpose; or

• (b) By giving the security of a guarantee society—

in such sum as the Registrar may from time to time recommend or, in the absence of such a recommendation, as the credit union directs; or

• (c) With the approval of the Registrar and in such sum as he may agree, by including that sum within the risks insured by the policy of insurance required to be in force in respect of the credit union pursuant to section 133 of this Act.

(3) In this section the term guarantee society means—

• (a) Any incorporated company carrying on the business of insurance in New Zealand; or

• (b) Any society registered under Part 2 of this Act as a specially authorised society and duly authorised to guarantee the fidelity of officers of societies or branches registered under the said Part 2 or credit unions; or

• (c) An Association of credit unions authorised under section 143(4)(e) of this Act to offer fidelity insurance.

(4) Where any registered friendly society makes provision by its rules in accordance with clause 8 of Schedule 1 to this Act for guaranteeing the performance of their duties by officers of the society or its branches and membership of that friendly society is the common bond for the membership of a credit union, then the society may resolve to extend the effect of the guarantee to cover officers of the credit union to the same extent as if they were officers of the society, and it shall be a sufficient compliance with this section if any officer of the society or of any branch thereof gives the security of the society in accordance with those rules as extended.

(5) The Registrar may from time to time, either generally or specifically, review any security or bond given pursuant to this section and may require amendments to the sums secured or conditions applying or both.

(1) Every officer of a credit union having the receipt or charge of money shall—

• (a) At such times as he is required to do so by the rules of the credit union; or

• (b) On demand; or

• (c) On notice in writing requiring him to do so given or left at his last or usual place of residence,—

render such account as may be required by the credit union, or by the trustees or committee of management of the credit union; and shall, on demand or on notice as in paragraph (c) of this subsection, pay over all money and deliver all property in his hands or custody to such person as the credit union, or the trustees or the committee, may appoint.

(2) In case of any neglect or refusal to deliver the account or to pay over the money or to deliver the property in accordance with subsection (1) of this section, the trustees or authorised officers of the credit union—

• (a) May sue upon any bond or security given under section 114 of this Act; or

• (b) May apply to the District Court for an order requiring the officer to remedy that neglect or to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section.

The provisions of section 36 of this Act (which relates to the priority of claims on the death or bankruptcy of an officer of a society or branch registered under Part 2 of this Act) shall, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modification, apply in respect of officers of a credit union as if they were officers of a society registered under the said Part 2.

(1) In this section surplus funds, in relation to a credit union, means funds not immediately required for its purposes.

(2) The trustees of a credit union may invest its surplus funds in accordance with the provisions of the Trustee Act 1956 as to the investment of trust funds.

(3) The trustees of a credit union may also invest its surplus funds by depositing them with any Association of credit unions of which it is a component member pursuant to section 143 of this Act.

(4) Any surplus funds of a credit union which are not either—

• (a) Invested in accordance with subsection (2) or subsection (3) of this section; or

• (b) Kept in cash in the custody of officers of the credit union,—

shall be kept by the credit union on current account with, or otherwise on loan to, any bank carrying on business in New Zealand.

(5) Nothing in this section shall prevent a credit union from making a temporary loan to another credit union pursuant to section 109 of this Act:

Provided that no Association of credit unions shall lend money to another Association without the prior approval of the Registrar.

(6) The provisions of section 49 of this Act (which relate to the duties of trustees in relation to investments) shall, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modification, apply in respect of the trustees of a credit union as if they were the trustees of a society registered under Part 2 of this Act.

(7) Where the common bond of a credit union is membership of a society registered under Part 2 of this Act and the trustees and other officers of the credit union are the same persons as the trustees and other officers of the society, it shall be sufficient compliance with this section if the surplus funds of the credit union were treated together with and as part of the surplus funds of the society and were invested accordingly, but accounted for separately to the credit union.

(8) Any credit union which contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of this section commits an offence against this Act.

For the purposes of this Part of this Act, the following provisions of this Act shall, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modification, apply in respect of credit unions as if they were societies registered under Part 2 of this Act:

• (a) Section 78 (which relates to the settlement of disputes generally); and

• (b) Section 79 (which provides for a reference of a dispute to the Registrar); and

• (c) Section 80 (which authorises the statement of a case on a matter of law for the opinion of the High Court); and

• (d) Section 81 (which relates to the reference of disputes to Court).

(1) In this section—

(2) Every credit union shall out of its profits, from year to year, establish and maintain a general reserve which shall not be distributed until the credit union is being wound up or is dissolved, but may be applied for the following purposes:

• (a) To offset realised losses arising from loans made by the credit union to members:

• (b) To such persons of such amounts in such special circumstances as the Registrar, on application, may approve.

(3) The general reserve shall be established and maintained as follows:

• (a) At the end of the credit union's first financial year and then each year, an amount equivalent to 10 percent of the gross earnings of the credit union shall be transferred to the general reserve until the reserve reaches an amount equivalent to 7.5 percent of the total assets of the credit union:

• (b) During the financial year immediately following the year that the reserve reached 7.5 percent of the total assets of the credit union and then each year, the amount to be transferred to the general reserve may be reduced to an amount equivalent to 5 percent of the gross earnings of the credit union until the reserve reaches an amount equivalent to at least 10 percent of the total assets of the credit union:

• (c) After the general reserve reaches an amount equivalent to 10 percent of the total assets of the credit union, the amount to be transferred to the general reserve in each subsequent financial year shall be 10 percent of the gross earnings or such lesser amount as may be necessary to maintain the general reserve at at least the amount equivalent to 10 percent of the total assets.

(4) Where a credit union has been trading or carrying on business for at least 4 years from the date of its registration and its total assets exceed $500,000 then, in respect of each financial year that the total assets exceed that amount, the amount to be transferred to the general reserve may be reduced to 5 percent of the gross earnings or such lesser amount as may be necessary to maintain the general reserve at at least the amount equivalent to 5 percent of the total assets.

(1) The first financial year of a credit union may extend from the date of its registration to such date not later than 18 months from the date of its registration as may be specified in its rules.

(2) Where the rules of a credit union are amended to alter its financial year, the amendment may provide that the financial year current at the date of amendment shall be extended for such period not exceeding 6 months as may be specified in its rules or that the financial year next following the financial year that is so current shall be for such period exceeding 12 months but not exceeding 18 months as may be specified in its rules.

(3) Nothing in this section limits or affects the requirements imposed by the Financial Reporting Act 1993 on a credit union that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of that Act.

(1) Every credit union that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993 shall—

• (a) Cause proper accounting records to be kept relating to its transactions and its assets and liabilities; and

• (b) Establish and maintain a satisfactory system of control of its accounting records, its cash holdings, and all its receipts and payments; and

• (c) In respect of each financial year, cause to be prepared an income and expenditure account which deals with the affairs of the credit union for that year, and a statement of financial position—

and, for these purposes the provisions of sections 60 and 61 of this Act shall, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modification, apply in respect of such credit unions as if they were societies registered under Part 2 of this Act.

(2) Every credit union that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993 shall—

• (a) Cause proper accounting records to be kept relating to its transactions and its assets and liabilities; and

• (b) Establish and maintain a satisfactory system of control of its accounting records, its cash holdings, and all its receipts and payments; and

• (c) Cause financial statements to be completed in accordance with that Act—

and, for these purposes the provisions of section 60 of this Act shall, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modification, apply in respect of such credit unions as if they were societies registered under Part 2 of this Act.

(1) Subject to this section, every credit union shall, in each financial year, appoint a qualified auditor or qualified auditors to audit its accounts and statement of financial position for that year.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to a credit union if—

• (a) The receipts and payments of that credit union in respect of the preceding financial year did not, in the aggregate, exceed $20,000; and

• (b) The value of its assets at the end of that year did not, in the aggregate, exceed $20,000.

(3) A credit union to which, by virtue of subsection (2) of this section, subsection (1) of this section does not apply in respect of any financial year shall, in this Part of this Act, be referred to as an exempt credit union in respect of that financial year.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) of this section, where the preceding financial year of a credit union was greater than a period of 12 months, as provided under section 120 of this Act, the amount of $20,000 referred to in subsection (2) of this section shall be increased proportionately.

(5) The Governor-General, from time to time by Order in Council, may—

• (a) Substitute for any sum for the time being specified in this section, such sum as may be specified in the order; and

• (b) Prescribe what receipts and payments of a credit union shall be taken into account for the purpose of subsection (2) of this section,—

and any such order may make different provision in relation to different cases or different circumstances.

(6) Any credit union which is audited under a programme approved by the Registrar (which approval may be reviewed, made subject to conditions, or withdrawn, at any time) and conducted by an Association of credit unions of which it is a member, shall be an exempt credit union to which subsection (1) of this section does not apply.

(7) No Association of credit unions shall be an exempt credit union under this section.

(1) For the purposes of section 122(1) of this Act, no person shall be qualified for appointment as auditor of a credit union unless he is—

• (a) A chartered accountant (within the meaning of section 19 of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand Act 1996); or

• (b) A member, fellow, or associate of an association of accountants constituted outside New Zealand which is for the time being approved for the purposes of section 199 of the Companies Act 1993.

(2) The appointment of a partnership by the firm name to be auditors shall be taken to be the appointment of all the persons who are partners in the firm at the time of the appointment.

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall disqualify any person appointed as auditor of a credit union and holding office as such immediately before the commencement of this Act from acting as auditor of that credit union, or from being at any time and from time to time during a period of 5 years after the commencement of this Act reappointed as auditor of that credit union.

(4) None of the following persons shall be qualified for appointment as auditor of a credit union:

• (a) An officer or employee of the credit union:

• (b) A person who is a partner of or in the employment of an officer or employee of the credit union:

• (c) A body corporate.

(5) Subsections (1) and (4) of this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the rules of any credit union.

(6) If a credit union to which section 122(1) of this Act applies appoints any unqualified person to be an auditor—

• (a) The appointment shall be void, and the Registrar may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy:

• (b) The credit union, and every officer of the credit union who is in default, commits an offence against this Act.

(7) Subject to this Act, any unqualified person who acts as auditor of any credit union commits an offence against this Act.

(1) Subject to any direction given by the Registrar under subsection (2) of this section, every credit union exempt under section 122(3) of this Act shall, in each financial year, appoint at its option either—

• (a) A qualified auditor or qualified auditors; or

• (b) Two or more persons who are not qualified auditors,—

to audit its accounts and statement of financial position for that year.

(2) The Registrar may give a direction in the case of any particular exempt credit union (whether exempt under subsection (3) or subsection (6) of section 122 of this Act) in respect of the current financial year requiring it to appoint a qualified auditor or auditors to audit its accounts and statement of financial position for that year.

(3) The Registrar may also give a direction in the case of any particular exempt credit union in respect of any financial year before that in which the direction is given and did not appoint a qualified auditor or qualified auditors to audit its accounts and statement of financial position for that year—

• (a) Requiring it to appoint a qualified auditor to audit those accounts and that statement of financial position; and

• (b) In any case where that credit union has sent to him its annual return for that year before the date of the direction, requiring it (after its accounts and statement of financial position have been audited by a qualified auditor) to send to him within 3 months from receipt of the direction or within such further period as he may allow a further annual return complying with the requirements of this Act (other than the requirement as to the time at which the annual return must be sent).

(1) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, the following provisions of this Act shall, as far as they are applicable and with the necessary modification, apply in respect of credit unions as if they were societies registered under Part 2 of this Act:

• (a) Section 65 (which relates to the reappointment and removal of auditors):

• (b) Section 66 (which relates to notices of resolution affecting the appointment or removal of auditors):

• (c) Section 67 (which relates to proceedings subsequent to a notice of intention to move a resolution):

• (d) Section 68 (which imposes an obligation on auditors to report to the credit union):

• (e) Section 69 (which relates to auditors' rights of access to the accounting records of the credit union).

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, nothing in section 68 of this Act shall apply to a credit union which is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993.

Where it appears to the Registrar to be necessary or desirable that the financial structure of the business or activities or any part of them of a credit union should be amended or improved, he may advise the credit union of his opinion and require it to submit to him such proposals (whether by way of levy on members or the writing down of share capital or otherwise) as will effect that financial amendment or improvement.

(1) Every credit union shall once in every year, within 3 months after the close of the financial year of the credit union or such extended period as the Registrar in any particular case may allow, send to the Registrar an annual return.

(2) Every annual return shall relate to the affairs of the credit union for the financial year preceding that in which the return is required to be sent, and, subject to subsection (3) of this section, shall be made in such form and contain such particulars as the Registrar may from time to time require.

(3) Every annual return—

• (a) Shall be made up for the financial year to which the return relates; and

• (b) Shall contain,—

  • (i) In the case of a credit union that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, the income and expenditure account or accounts of the credit union prepared in accordance with section 61(1) (as applied by section 121) of this Act for the financial year to which the return relates and a statement of financial position as at the end of that year; or

  • (ii) In the case of a credit union which is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, the financial statements required to be completed in respect of the issuer under that Act for the financial year to which the return relates; and

• (c) Shall not contain any other accounts unless they have been audited by the auditors for the credit union; and

• (d) Shall have attached a list containing the names, addresses, and designations of the committee of management, the secretary, treasurer, and other principal officers, the trustees, and those persons who are authorised to sue and be sued on behalf of the credit union; and

• (e) Shall be accompanied by a statement giving details of the total number of members in each category of member as recorded in the register kept pursuant to section 130 of this Act.

(4) The annual return to the Registrar shall be accompanied,—

• (a) In the case of a credit union that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, by the report of the auditors on the income and expenditure account or accounts and statement of financial position contained in the annual return; or

• (b) In the case of a credit union that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, by the report of the auditors on the financial statements contained in the annual return.

(1) Any credit union which is being terminated by an instrument of dissolution under section 94 or the award of the Registrar under section 95 of this Act (each section being as applied by section 140 of this Act) shall make up its annual return to the date of that instrument of dissolution or that award.

(2) In the case of a credit union amalgamating or transferring its engagements pursuant to section 135 of this Act, the Registrar may require an annual return made up to the date of such amalgamation or transfer of engagements, or to such other date as he may specify.

(1) On the application of a member or person interested in its funds a credit union shall supply to him without charge either—

• (a) A copy of the last annual return of the credit union; or

• (b) A statement of financial position or other document duly audited containing the same particulars relating to the affairs of the credit union as are contained in the annual return.

(2) Together with every copy of an annual return supplied in accordance with paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, a credit union shall provide,—

• (a) In the case of a credit union that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, a copy of the report of the auditors on the accounts and statement of financial position contained in the return; or

• (b) In the case of a credit union that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, a copy of the report of the auditors on the financial statements contained in the return.

(3) Together with every statement of financial position or other document supplied in accordance with paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section, a credit union shall provide a copy of the report of the auditors on the statement of financial position or document.

(1) Every credit union shall set up and maintain an indexed register of members showing separately—

• (a) Ordinary members:

• (b) Non-qualifying members within the meaning of section 106(4) of this Act.

(2) The register shall show—

• (a) The name and address of each member:

• (b) The date on which the member joined the credit union or changed category as a member:

• (c) The date on which any person ceased to be a member.

(3) The register of members shall also show such other particulars as may from time to time be prescribed by the Registrar.

(4) The register shall be kept at the registered office of the credit union, and shall be open to inspection during ordinary office hours by any member of the credit union.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, any member or other person having an interest in the funds of a credit union may inspect the books and accounts of the credit union at all reasonable hours at the registered office of the credit union or at any place where the books or accounts are kept.

(2) Unless he is an officer of, or is specially authorised by resolution of, the credit union to do so, a member or other person having an interest in the funds of a credit union shall not have the right to inspect any account of any other member without the written consent of that member.

Every credit union shall keep available for inspection (without charge) by a member or person interested in its funds at its office during ordinary office hours,—

• (a) In the case of a credit union that is not an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, a copy of the last statement of financial position for the time being, including the income and expenditure account for the year to which the statement of financial position relates, together with the report of the auditor or auditors; or

• (b) In the case of a credit union that is an issuer within the meaning of section 4 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993, a copy of the last financial statements completed and signed in accordance with that Act, together with the auditor's report.

(1) No society shall be registered as a credit union unless the Registrar is satisfied that, on registration, there will be in force in relation to that society a policy of insurance complying with the requirements of this section.

(2) In order to comply with this section, a policy of insurance—

• (a) Subject to such exceptions as may be prescribed, shall insure the credit union in respect of every description of loss suffered or liability incurred by reason of the fraud or other dishonesty of any of its officers or employees; and

• (b) Shall so insure the credit union up to a limit of not less than such amount as may be prescribed in respect of any one claim, except that the liability of the insurer may be restricted to a prescribed amount in respect of the total of the claims made in any one year; and

• (c) Shall not, except with the consent in writing of the Registrar, provide in relation to any claim for any amount greater than one percent of the limit referred to in paragraph (b) of this subsection to be met by the credit union; and

• (d) Shall comply with such other conditions as may be prescribed.

(3) In this section, prescribed means prescribed from time to time by the Governor-General by Order in Council; and different exceptions, amounts, limits, and conditions may be prescribed in respect of different credit unions or classes of credit union.

(4) Notwithstanding any amount prescribed for the purpose of subsection (2)(b) of this section, a policy of insurance will still comply with this section if that prescribed amount is reduced by the amount the credit union has obtained as security in respect of the fidelity of its officers pursuant to section 114(2) or section 114(4) of this Act.

(5) Every credit union which, at any time, fails to maintain in force a policy of insurance complying with the requirements of this section, and every member of the committee of management of such a credit union, commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

(1) Subject to this section, a credit union, or any 2 or more credit unions, or any Association of credit unions on behalf of its constituent members may enter into arrangements with a person carrying on the business of insurance, for the purpose of making funds available—

• (a) To assist any credit union that is a party to the arrangements and which, in the opinion of the Registrar, is in financial difficulties:

• (b) To meet losses incurred by members of a credit union which is a party to the arrangements.

(2) Any 2 or more credit unions together or any Association of credit unions on behalf of its constituent members may enter into any other kind of arrangements for the purposes specified in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Subject to this section and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act or a credit union's or Association's rules, a credit union or Association shall have power to make contributions, whether by instalments or not, under arrangements made in accordance with this section, but subject in all cases to the approval of the Registrar.

(4) Arrangements under this section may provide for the vesting of a fund in trustees appointed under the arrangements.

(5) Arrangements under this section may provide for the incorporation of a company under the Companies Act 1993; and a credit union or Association shall have power to subscribe for or purchase shares in, or deposit money with, any company so incorporated whether by instalments or not, but subject in all cases to the approval of the Registrar.

(6) Arrangements under this section shall not come into force, and no contribution, subscription, or deposit shall be made thereunder by a credit union or Association, until the arrangements have been approved by the Registrar; and the Registrar shall not approve arrangements under this section unless they provide that any variation of their terms shall also require the approval of the Registrar.

(1) Any 2 or more credit unions may, by special resolution of each of them, become amalgamated together as one credit union, with or without any dissolution or division of the funds of those credit unions or any of them.

(2) A credit union may by special resolution transfer its engagements to any other credit union which may (by special resolution or in such other manner as may be authorised by its rules) undertake to fulfil the engagements of that credit union.

(3) A credit union shall not amalgamate with or transfer its engagements to or accept a transfer of engagements from—

• (a) Any society which is not a credit union:

• (b) Any Association of credit unions,—

and an Association shall only amalgamate with or transfer its engagements to another Association of credit unions.

(4) For the purposes of this section, section 83, as far as it is applicable and with any necessary modification, applies in respect of a credit union as if it were a society registered under Part 2.

(4A) The Registrar must not register a special resolution under section 82 if the proposed amalgamation or transfer of engagements would result in a breach of any provision of this Act.

(5) In this Part of this Act the term “non-qualifying member”, in relation to an amalgamated credit union or a credit union which has accepted a transfer of engagements, includes a person who does not fulfil the qualifications for admission to membership of that credit union but became a member of it by virtue of the amalgamation or transfer of engagements, having been immediately before the amalgamation or transfer a non-qualifying member of one of the amalgamating credit unions or, as the case may be, the credit union from which the transfer of engagements was made.

(1) If, after notice has been given of a general meeting at which it is proposed to put a special resolution amalgamating or transferring the engagements of the credit union pursuant to section 135 of this Act the meeting lapses for want of the quorum specified in the rules of the credit union, the committee or trustees of the credit union may apply to the Registrar to confirm the amalgamation or transfer as if the special resolution had been properly passed.

(2) Notice of every such application shall be published by the credit union in the Gazette, and in such newspaper or newspapers as the Registrar may require.

(3) Objections in writing may be made to the Registrar, and for this purpose the objection provisions of section 85 of this Act with any necessary modifications shall apply to the application as if it were a special resolution passed in respect of a friendly society and the date of publication of the application were the date the special resolution was received by the Registrar under subsection (3) of that section.

Section 89 of this Act (which relates to the appointment of inspectors or the calling of special meetings) shall, as far as it is applicable and with any necessary modification, apply in respect of a credit union as if it were a society registered under Part 2 of this Act.

On the application of the Registrar, the High Court may appoint a liquidator of a credit union for the liquidation of the credit union in accordance with the Companies Act 1993 if—

• (a) the credit union is unable to pay sums due and payable to its members, or is able to pay such sums only by obtaining further subscriptions for shares or by defaulting in its obligations to creditors; or

• (b) there has been, in relation to that credit union, failure to comply with any provision of, or any direction given under, this Act; or

• (c) there is no longer a common bond between the members of the credit union; or

• (d) the liquidation of the credit union is in the public interest or is just and equitable having regard to the interests of all members of the credit union.

(1) Nothing in section 138 of this Act shall apply to or affect the winding up of a credit union commenced before the commencement of the Company Law Reform (Transitional Provisions) Act 1994 or anything done by or in relation to a credit union under Part 6 of the Companies Act 1955 before the commencement of that Act, and section 138 of this Act and Part 6 of the Companies Act 1955, as in force before the commencement of that Act, shall continue in force in relation thereto as if that Act had not been passed.

(2) In the liquidation of a credit union under Part 16 of the Companies Act 1993, nothing in any of sections 292 to 299 of that Act applies in relation to any transaction entered into by a credit union, or any matter that arose, before the commencement of the Company Law Reform (Transitional Provisions) Act 1994, but sections 309, 310, 311, 311A, 311B, and 311C of the Companies Act 1955, as in force before the commencement of that Act, shall continue to apply in respect of that transaction or matter as if that Act had not been passed.

(1) Subject to this section, where the Registrar is satisfied that, having regard to the interests of all the members of the credit union or in the interests of potential members of the credit union it is expedient to do so, he may give a direction prohibiting the credit union to such extent and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the direction from carrying on all or any of the following activities:

• (a) Borrowing money:

• (b) Accepting a payment representing the whole or any part of an amount due by way of subscription for a share in the credit union other than a payment which fell due before the making of the order:

• (c) Lending money:

• (d) Repaying share capital:

• (e) Accepting new members.

(2) Not less than one month before giving a direction under subsection (1) of this section, the Registrar shall give the credit union notice in writing that he proposes to give such a direction, and shall set out in the notice his reasons for doing so.

(3) The Registrar shall consider any representations with respect to a notice under subsection (2) of this section which may be made to him by the credit union within such period (being not less than one month) as he may allow from the date on which the credit union is given the notice or such further period as he may allow; and, if the credit union so requests, shall afford it an opportunity of being heard by him within that period or further period.

(4) Where the Registrar gives a direction under subsection (1) of this section he shall give the credit union notice in writing of it setting out his reasons for doing so; but he shall not give such a direction under the said subsection (1) unless all the reasons set out were those, or were among those, which were set out in the notice given to the credit union under subsection (2) of this section.

(5) Notice of the giving of a direction under subsection (1) of this section shall be published by the Registrar in the Gazette and in some newspaper in general circulation in the neighbourhood of the registered office of the credit union.

(6) Nothing in any direction given under this section shall make it unlawful for a credit union to borrow from a bank under section 109(2) of this Act if the credit union has first obtained the consent in writing of the Registrar.

(7) For the purposes of this section and of any direction given under it, if any indebtedness of a member to a credit union is set off to any extent against the share capital credited to him, then, to that extent, the setting off shall be treated as a repayment of that share capital.

(8) A direction given under this section may be revoked by the Registrar, and notice of the revocation shall be published in the same manner as notice of the giving of the direction.

(9) Where a direction under this section is revoked, any obligation of any person to make a payment to the credit union which fell due at a time when the credit union was prohibited by the direction from accepting it shall be suspended for a period equal to the period for which the prohibition was in force.

(10) Subject to subsection (9) of this section, any obligation to make to a credit union a payment which the credit union is prohibited from accepting by a direction under this section shall be wholly rescinded.

(11) A credit union may, within one month after the date of publication of a direction in the Gazette under subsection (5) of this section, appeal to the High Court against the whole or any part of the direction; but, until the appeal is determined, the direction shall have effect according to its tenor.

(1) The Registrar may suspend a credit union's registration for any term not exceeding 3 months, and may from time to time renew the suspension for any term not exceeding 3 months, or may cancel a credit union's registration if there is no longer a common bond between the credit union's members or the Registrar is satisfied that—

• (a) registration has been obtained for the credit union by fraud or mistake; or

• (b) the credit union exists for an illegal purpose; or

• (c) the credit union has wilfully, and after notice from the Registrar, breached any of the provisions of this Act; or

• (d) the credit union has not commenced business within 1 year of registration or has voluntarily suspended business for more than 6 months; or

• (e) the credit union has fewer than 21 members; or

• (f) the credit union has ceased to exist; or

• (g) at the request of the credit union, there is good reason for the cancellation or suspension; or

• (h) there has been a failure by the credit union to comply with any direction of the Registrar given under this Act.

(1A) Subsection (1) is subject to the following provisions (as far as they are applicable and with any modifications necessary so that they apply to a credit union as if it were a society registered under Part 2):

• (a) section 92(2) to (9):

• (b) section 93(1):

• (c) section 94(1) to (4) and (6):

• (d) section 95:

• (e) section 96.

(2) Where the registration of a credit union is cancelled pursuant to this section, whether as a result of an award or by agreement or otherwise, every officer of the credit union holding office immediately before such cancellation commits an offence if, at the expiry of a period of 3 months after the date of such cancellation or such extended period as the Registrar may allow, there has not been lodged with the Registrar a certificate signed by the liquidator, secretary, or other officer of the credit union approved by the Registrar that all property vested in the credit union has been duly conveyed or transferred by the credit union to the persons entitled.

Where a credit union is wound up pursuant to section 138 of this Act, the liability of a present or past member of the credit union to contribute for payment of the debts and liabilities of the credit union, the expenses of winding up, and the adjustment of the rights of contributories amongst themselves, shall be qualified as follows:

• (a) No person who ceased to be a member not less than one year before the beginning of the winding up shall be liable to contribute:

• (b) No person shall be liable to contribute in respect of any debt or liability contracted after he ceased to be a member:

• (c) No person who is not a member shall be liable to contribute unless it appears to the Court that the contributions of the existing members are insufficient to satisfy the just demands on the credit union:

• (d) No contribution shall be required from any person exceeding the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares in respect of which he is liable as a past or present member, together with any fees or charges or levies payable as such by a member to the credit union as specified in the rules and any money owing by the member to the credit union:

• (e) In the case of a withdrawable share which has been withdrawn, a person shall be taken to have ceased to be a member in respect of that share as from the date of the notice or application for withdrawal.

(1) Notwithstanding that, pursuant to section 107(2) of this Act, shares in a credit union are not transferable, a member of a credit union may, by writing under his hand delivered at or sent to the registered office of the credit union, or made in a register kept at that office, nominate a person or persons to receive any shares that the member may have in the credit union at his decease or any sum of money payable by the credit union at that time.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, sections 43, 44, and 45 of this Act shall, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modification, apply in respect of a credit union as if—

• (a) The references to societies were references to credit unions; and

• (b) The references to the maximum amount nominated of $2,000 were references to the maximum value of shares or sum of money nominated as being $2,000 in total.

(3) If the transfer of any shares comprised in a nomination in the manner directed by the nominator would raise the share capital of any nominee beyond the maximum for the time being permitted in the case of that credit union, the committee of the credit union shall not transfer to that nominee more of those shares than will raise his share capital to that maximum and shall pay him the value of any of those shares not transferred.

(1) No credit union shall be a member of a formal body, whose objects include any of the objects of an Association under this section, unless that body is registered as an Association under this Part of this Act.

(2) An Association of credit unions may be formed by 7 or more credit unions, in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Act.

(3) The objects of an Association shall be such of the following, as may be authorised by the rules of the Association—

• (a) To promote the interests of and strengthen co-operation among credit unions:

• (b) To render services to, and to act on behalf of, its component members in such ways as may be specified in or authorised by the rules of the Association:

• (c) To encourage the formulation, adoption, and observance by credit unions of standards and conditions governing the carrying on of their business:

• (d) To supervise and examine the affairs of its component members, as may be provided for in the rules of the Association:

• (e) to provide any other services specified in subsection (4).

(4) Specified services for the purposes of subsection (3)(e) are—

• (a) receiving deposits or subscriptions (other than subscriptions solely of an annual or periodic nature to be used for the Association's purposes) from its component members for purposes specified in its rules:

• (b) making loans to its component members:

• (c) establishing and maintaining a central funding scheme for the benefit of its component members:

• (d) levying its component members the amount or amounts for purposes and in the manner specified in its rules:

• (e) providing, or administering any scheme providing, fidelity insurance, savings insurance, or loan protection insurance:

• (f) undertaking training or education programmes for its component members or members of credit unions or the public:

• (g) providing advisory services for its component members:

• (h) arranging, providing, or co-ordinating data processing or computer services for its component members.

(1) The members of an Association shall be the credit unions by which the Association is formed and any other credit unions that are admitted to membership of the Association in accordance with its rules.

(2) Where an Association is formed by the amalgamation of 2 or more Associations, the members of the Association formed by the amalgamation shall be the members of the amalgamating Associations and other members that are admitted in accordance with the rules of the Association formed by the amalgamation.

(1) An application to register an Association under this Part of this Act shall be signed on behalf of at least 7 of the credit unions agreeing to form the Association by at least one representative of each of those credit unions, and shall be sent to the Registrar.

(2) Together with an application under subsection (1) of this section, there shall be sent a copy of the rules of the Association signed by those persons who signed that application and a list of the names, addresses, and designations of the committee of management, the secretary, treasurer, and other principal officers, the trustees, and those persons who are authorised to sue and be sued on behalf of the Association.

(3) Except where otherwise authorised in writing by the Registrar in the circumstances of any case, the name of every Association of credit unions shall contain the words “association of credit unions”.

(4) An Association shall not be registered under a name identical with that under which any other existing Association, credit union, or society is registered, or so nearly resembling that name as to be likely, or in any name likely, in the opinion of the Registrar, to deceive its component members or the public as to its nature or its identity or in any name which in his opinion is otherwise undesirable.

(1) If, after receipt of an application for the registration of an Association, the Registrar is satisfied—

• (a) That the rules as submitted are not contrary to the provisions of this Act and are such as may be reasonably approved by him; and

• (b) That there are reasonable grounds for believing that the Association, if registered, will be able to carry out its objects successfully; and

• (c) That there is no reasonable cause why the Association and its rules should not be registered,—

the Registrar shall issue to that Association an acknowledgment of registration and publish, by notice in the Gazette, details of the registration.

(2) Upon the issue of an acknowledgment of registration under subsection (1) of this section in respect of any Association, the Association shall have the powers, rights, duties, and functions conferred, imposed, or prescribed by or under this Act and the rules of the Association.

(3) The following provisions of this Part of this Act shall not apply in respect of Associations:

• (a) Sections 98 to 100, section 101(1), and sections 102 and 103:

• (b) So much of section 104(1) as relates to section 12 (except subsection (6)), section 17, and section 23(3) and (4) of this Act:

• (c) Section 104(1)(a), (b), and (c), and (2):

• (d) Section 106 (except subsection (8)), and sections 107 and 108:

• (e) Section 119, section 124, and section 142.

(1) Subject to this Act, a registered society or branch or credit union may, by ordinary resolution, change its name with the approval in writing of the Registrar.

(2) No change of name shall affect any right, duty, or obligation of the society, branch, or credit union, or of any member or officer thereof.

No customs duties shall be chargeable on regalia, emblems, certificates, almanacs, and banners being the property of any registered society or branch.

Any costs or expenses ordered or directed by the Registrar to be paid by any person under this Act shall be recoverable as a debt in any Court of competent jurisdiction by the person to whom they are payable.

(1) Any person who, being an undischarged bankrupt or bound by a composition in favour of his creditors, acts as a committee member or trustee of, or directly or indirectly takes part in or is concerned in the management of, a registered society or branch or credit union or in any business or activity undertaken by such society, branch, or credit union except with the leave of the High Court shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

(2) Any person who has been convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty and is liable on conviction with imprisonment for a term of 3 months or more and who, within a period of 5 years after his conviction, or if he is sentenced to imprisonment, after his release from prison, without the leave of the High Court is a committee member or trustee or promoter of, or is, whether directly or indirectly, concerned or takes part in the management of, a registered society or branch or credit union or in any business or activity undertaken by such society, branch, or credit union, he shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

(3) A person intending to apply for the leave of the Court under this section shall give to the Registrar not less than 10 days' notice of his intention so to apply.

(4) On the hearing of any application under this section, the Registrar may appear or be represented at the hearing of, and may oppose the granting of, the application.

(5) Nothing in this section shall apply in respect of any person who, as at the commencement of this Act, acts as a committee member or trustee of, or directly or indirectly takes part in or is concerned in the management of a registered society or branch or credit union or in any business or activity undertaken by such society, branch, or credit union, and who, but for this subsection, would be guilty of an offence against this Act.

(1) Except where this Act otherwise provides—

• (a) Where this Act provides for an appeal to the High Court; or

• (b) Where any person is aggrieved by the decision of the Registrar in relation to any matter or thing done by him pursuant to this Act,—

the person for whom the appeal is provided or the person aggrieved shall have a right of appeal to the High Court under this section.

(2) Except where otherwise provided by this Act, every such appeal shall be brought within one month after the date on which the appellant was notified of the decision appealed against, or within such further period as the Court may allow.

(3) Where a decision of the Registrar is to cancel or suspend any registration or suspend any business, then, except where this Act otherwise provides, that decision shall be of no effect until,—

• (a) Where notice of an appeal against that decision has been given within the period specified in subsection (2) of this section, the appeal is determined; or

• (b) Where no notice of an appeal against that decision has been given within that period, that period expires.

(4) The Court may receive in evidence any statement, document, information, or matter that may in its opinion assist it to deal effectually with the matters before it, whether or not that evidence would be otherwise admissible in a Court of law.

(5) In its determination of any appeal the Court may confirm, modify, or reverse the decision appealed against, or any part of that decision, and, subject to subsection (6) of this section, the decision of the Court shall be final and conclusive.

(6) The Court may in any case, instead of determining any appeal, direct the Registrar to reconsider, either generally or in respect of any specified matters, the whole or any specified part of the matter to which the appeal relates.

(7) In giving any such direction, the Court shall—

• (a) Advise the Registrar of its reasons for doing so; and

• (b) Give to the Registrar such directions as it thinks just as to the reconsideration or otherwise of the whole or any part of the matter that is referred back for reconsideration.

(8) The Registrar shall, in reconsidering any matter so referred back to him, have regard to the Court's reasons for giving a direction and to the Court's directions under subsection (7) of this section.

The Governor-General may, from time to time by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:

• (a) Prescribing fees payable in relation to any matter under this Act:

• (b) Prescribing the proper allowances to be made by a credit union for contingent liability for loss in respect of any loan made by that credit union:

• (c) Prescribing, in respect of any fund or funds held, arranged, or established by any registered society or branch undertaking insurance or by an Association of credit unions, the amount or proportion of any such fund to be invested in New Zealand Government securities or local authority securities:

• (d) Providing for such matters as are contemplated by or necessary for giving full effect to the provisions of this Act and for its due administration.

(1) Every registered society or branch or credit union, or officer or member thereof, commits an offence against this Act who—

• (a) Without reasonable excuse, acts in contravention of or fails to comply in any respect with any provision of this Act or any notice, direction, restriction, requirement, or condition given, made or imposed under this Act or any regulations made under it:

• (b) With intent to deceive, makes any false or misleading statement or any material omission in any communication or application or return for the purposes of this Act or of any regulations made under it.

(2) Every person commits an offence against this Act who—

• (a) Without reasonable excuse where a dispute is referred under this Act to the Registrar, that person refuses to attend, or to produce any accounting records or documents, or to give evidence before the Registrar:

• (b) With intent to deceive, makes, or orders or allows to be made, any false entry or erasure in or omission from any accounting records or documents of a registered society or branch or credit union.

(3) Every default under this Act constituting an offence shall constitute a new offence in every week during which the default continues.

(4) Every person who commits an offence against this Act for which no other penalty is prescribed in this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $750 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $50 for every week or part of a week during which the offence continues.

(5) Notwithstanding section 14 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, an information in respect of any offence against this Act may be laid at any time within 12 months after the date when an offence was actually brought to the knowledge of the Registrar; but no information shall be laid after the expiration of 3 years after the time when the matter of the information arose.

When a fine has been imposed upon a registered society or branch, or credit union in any proceedings under this Act for an offence punishable on summary conviction, or where in any such proceedings any such society, branch, or credit union has been ordered to pay any costs, the payment of such fine or costs may be enforced and recovered in the same manner as if the society, branch, or credit union were a body corporate and as if all property vested in the trustees of the society, branch, or credit union were vested in the society, branch, or credit union itself for the estate or interest of the trustees therein.

(1) The trustees of a registered society or branch or credit union shall be deemed to be trustees within the meaning of section 229 of the Crimes Act 1961.

(2) [Repealed]

Where a registered society or branch or credit union is guilty of an offence against this Act, every officer of the society or branch or credit union bound to fulfil any duty whereof the offence is a breach or, if there is no such officer, then every member of the committee (unless that member is proved to have been ignorant of or to have attempted to prevent the commission of the offence) shall be liable to the same penalty as if he had committed the offence.

(1) The trustees of a registered society or branch or credit union, or any other authorised officer, may bring or defend, or cause to be brought or defended, any action or other legal proceeding in any Court touching or concerning any property, right, or claim of the society or branch or credit union, and may sue and be sued in their proper names, without other description than the title of their office.

(2) In legal proceedings brought under this Act by a member, or person claiming through a member, a registered society or branch or credit union may also be sued in the name, as defendant, of any officer or person who receives contributions or issues policies on behalf of the society or branch or credit union, with the addition of the words “on behalf of the (Society) or (Branch) or (Credit Union)”.

(3) No legal proceeding shall abate or be discontinued by the death, resignation, or removal from office of any officer, or by any act of any such officer, after the commencement of the proceedings.

(4) Any summons, writ, process, or other proceeding to be issued to or against the officer or other person sued on behalf of a registered society or branch or credit union shall be sufficiently served by personally serving that officer or other person, or by leaving a true copy at the registered office of the society or branch or credit union, or at any place of business of the society or branch or credit union.

(5) Where the said summons, writ, process, or other proceeding is not served by means of such personal service, or by leaving a true copy at the registered office of the society or branch or credit union, a copy shall be sent in a registered letter addressed to the committee at the registered office of the society or branch or credit union, and posted at least 6 days before any further step is taken on the proceeding.

(6) Where the person against whom the proceedings are to be taken is himself a trustee of a society or branch or credit union, the proceedings may be brought by the other trustees or trustee of the society or branch or credit union.

(1) Every instrument or document purporting to be sealed with the seal of the Registrar shall be received in evidence without further proof.

(2) Every instrument or document purporting to be signed by the Registrar, or the Revising Barrister, or the Government Actuary, or any actuary or auditor under this Act shall be received in evidence without proof of the signature or of the official position of the person appearing to have signed the instrument or document.

(3) Every instrument or document required by this Act to be sent to the Registrar may be proved by a document purporting to be a copy thereof under the seal of the Registrar.

All fines imposed on a member by a registered society or branch pursuant to its rules shall be recoverable in the same manner as a debt owing to that society or branch by that member.

(1) Any society or branch existing at the commencement of this Act and registered or deemed to be registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1909 (not being a society or branch or separate loan fund of a society or branch which, under this Act, would be a credit union), shall be deemed to be registered under Part 2 of this Act and shall be subject to this Act accordingly, but shall have 2 years after the commencement of this Act to comply fully with its provisions.

(2) Any society or branch registered or deemed to be registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1909 as at the commencement of this Act and any separate loan fund of such a society or branch, being in each case a society, branch, or loan fund that would, under this Act, be a credit union (which, in the case of a loan fund, shall have as its first trustees and other officers the trustees and other officers of the society or branch of which it is a loan fund), shall be deemed to be registered under Part 3 of this Act and shall—

• (a) Comply with all financial limits imposed in respect of credit unions on and from the day of commencement of this Act in relation to any new business entered into on and after that day; and

• (b) Comply with the provisions of section 133 of this Act (which provides for credit unions to be insured against fraud or other dishonesty) within 6 months after the commencement of this Act or within such further period as the Registrar may allow in a particular case; and

• (c) In relation to any interest in land held in contravention of section 113 of this Act, dispose of that interest within 6 months after the commencement of this Act; and

• (d) Comply with any other relevant provisions of this Act within 2 years after its commencement or within such further period as the Registrar may allow in a particular case.

(3) Every society or body of persons which, as at the commencement of this Act, is a credit union but which is registered or incorporated under any other enactment, shall, within 2 years after the commencement of this Act, apply for registration as a credit union under this Act.

(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, any society or body of persons registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1909 between the day this Act receives the Governor-General's assent and the date of its commencement, being a society or body of persons which would be a credit union under this Act, shall comply fully with the provisions of this Act as from that date of commencement.

(5) Notwithstanding the revocation of the Friendly Societies Regulations 1910 by section 161(3) of this Act, any juvenile society registered in accordance with regulations 55 and 56 of those regulations may continue in being as if those regulations had not been revoked.

(6) Where, in respect of any society, branch, or credit union, subsection (1) or, as the case may be, subsection (2)(d) or subsection (3) of this section would (except for this subsection) apply, the Minister may, if he is satisfied that it would be inequitable or too difficult or too expensive for that society, branch, or credit union to comply fully with the provisions of this Act, exempt the relevant body from compliance with such provisions of this Act as he may specify by notice in the Gazette; and the notice shall have effect according to its tenor in respect of the business or activities of the society, branch, or credit union to which it relates.

(7) Any notice given under subsection (6) of this section may be subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit, and may be reviewed from time to time on the application of the Registrar or of the society, branch, or credit union to which it relates, and in like manner may be amended or revoked.

(1) The enactments specified in Schedule 6 to this Act are hereby amended in the manner specified.

(2) The enactments specified in Schedule 7 to this Act are hereby repealed.

(3) The following Orders in Council are hereby revoked:

• (a) The Order in Council made on the 16th day of May 1911 authorising a special purpose under section 11(1)(d) of the Friendly Societies Act 1909 and published in the Gazette of the 25th day of May 1911 at page 1754:

• (b) The Friendly Societies (Financial Limits) Order 1979.

(4) The following regulations are hereby revoked:

• (a) Regulations under the Friendly Societies Act 1909 made on the 14th day of March 1910 and published in the Gazette of the 21st day of March 1910 at page 873; and

• (b) Regulations amending those regulations made on the 2nd day of June 1919 and published in the Gazette of the 5th day of June 1919 at page 1750.