Thirty years ago, New Zealand made history, and a recent reminder brought that milestone back into focus.
In 1996, the New Zealand Companies Office became the first registry in the world to allow the public to search its companies register online. At a time when the internet itself was still a novelty, this was not just a technical achievement.
It was a bold statement of intent, made possible by the leadership, vision, and commitment of the New Zealand Companies Office and its past leaders and staff, including Justin Hygate, who at the time served as Group Manager of Business Registries and was a key contributor to delivering this world-first capability.
Special recognition is owed to Neville Harris, the then Registrar of Companies, whose vision, leadership, and belief in the potential of digital services were instrumental in turning this ambitious initiative into a reality.
Transparency, accessibility, and public value would be designed into the system from day one.
Technology Looked Very Different in 1996
To fully appreciate how transformational this milestone was, it helps to remember the technological landscape of the mid-1990s.
In 1996, most internet access relied on dial-up connections. Websites were static, slow, and largely informational. Secure online services were rare. Cloud infrastructure did not exist. APIs were not part of government service design. The idea that a public register could be accessed by anyone, anywhere, in real time was far from the norm.
Against this backdrop, the New Zealand Companies Office made a deliberate decision to open corporate information to the public via the internet. This was not simply about putting records online. It was about reimagining the role of a register in a digital economy.
World Firsts That Set a New Direction
The launch of online company search in 1996 was just the beginning.
- 1996 – Online company search became publicly available
- 1997 – Online name reservations followed
- 1998 – Full online incorporation and ongoing company maintenance went live
No other jurisdiction at the time offered this level of end-to-end digital registry capability.
The original interface, affectionately known as “The Flintstones,” may look charmingly retro today, but the service model behind it was anything but. The system also supported touchscreen kiosks in regional Companies Office search rooms, enabling users to search and pay digitally while transitioning away from physical files.
It was practical, inclusive, and quietly ahead of its time.
Screen capture of what the "Flintstones interface" looked like in 1996 - Image credit to The Way Back Machine
A Legacy That Shaped the Future of Registers
What made New Zealand’s approach so influential was not just the technology, but the mindset behind it.
An innovative, curious, and adventurous spirit allowed the Companies Office to rethink what a registry could be. This shift helped move registers away from being passive record-keepers towards becoming active gatekeepers of data integrity and enablers of economic growth.
That way of thinking has since echoed across jurisdictions globally. Digital-first services, real-time access to trusted data, and registers designed to support compliance, transparency, and business confidence can all trace their roots back to these early decisions.
The legacy of 1996 was not simply a new service. It was a redefinition of the role registries play in modern economies.
Team Foster Moore navigating towards the future - Image generated using AI
Proud to Be Part of History
At Foster Moore, this milestone is deeply personal.
Several members of our team worked on that original platform and continue to shape registry solutions today. That continuity reflects a lived understanding of where registries have come from, why they exist, and how they must continue to evolve.
We are proud to have been active participants in a moment that changed the trajectory of registry services worldwide, and proud to carry that innovation DNA forward in the work we deliver today.
Thirty years on, the technology may look very different, but the spirit that launched the world’s first online companies register remains just as relevant. Here is to curiosity, courage, and ideas that redefine what is possible.
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The future of registers is still being written. If you want a partner who understands where registries have come from and where they are heading, reach out to the Foster Moore team to start the conversation.