With less than three months remaining before the 5 April 2026 (Easter Sunday) deadline, growing concern is emerging that many sports clubs and community organisations across New Zealand may be unintentionally heading towards involuntary dissolution.

Recent reporting indicates that fewer than half of incorporated community sport organisations have successfully re-registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 ("2022 Act"). For clubs run largely by volunteers, we expect this is not due to lack of care, but often a lack of awareness of what is required, or the time and expertise needed to complete the process correctly.

Why this matters for sports clubs and community organisations

Failure to re-register under the new Act by 5 April 2026 has serious consequences, including:

• loss of incorporated status and legal identity
• loss of charitable status and IRD number
• losing access to bank accounts
• inability to hold, manage or protect assets (including land), and exposing assets to distribution by the Registrar
• loss of ability to enter into, benefit from, or enforce contracts — and an increased risk of existing contracts being cancelled, as loss of incorporated status is often grounds for termination
• increased personal risk for members and committees, including potential personal liability for debts and obligations

For sports clubs, this can affect everything from property ownership, insurance and lease arrangements to sponsorships, grant funding and officers' governance protections.

Re-registration is more than a formality

Re-registering under the 2022 Act is not a simple tick-box exercise, with various considerations at play - see our article outlining these.

A quick compliance checklist for sports clubs and societies

If you’re involved in running a sports club or incorporated society, the following checklist can help you quickly assess where you stand under the 2022 Act.

Ask yourselves:

• ‍Has our constitution been updated to comply with the 2022 Act?
• Have we re-registered under the 2022 Act?
  Search the society on the register and check which Act it's registered under:
  ‍2022 Act = reregistered,
  1908 Act = immediate action needed‍
• Have we filed our most recent financial statements under the 1908 Act before applying to re‑register?
• Do we understand our financial reporting and annual return obligations under the 2022 Act?
  ‍Discuss with your accountant and refer to the available guidance resources: Meeting reporting requirements and Incorporated Societies.

If you cannot confidently tick all of the above, your club or society may still be at risk of dissolution.

How McVeagh Fleming can help

Our team regularly works with sports clubs, community organisations, and incorporated societies to:

• review and update constitutions
• advise on compliance with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022
• assist with the re-registration process
• provide practical guidance tailored to volunteer-run organisations

If your club or society would like clarity on its obligations or support navigating the process, please contact McVeagh Fleming.