This simple infographic gives you a time line and what changes need to happen to every Incorporated Society over the next 2+ years.

Each Incorporated Society will need to update their constitution (the rules of the organisation) which will need to be adopted and reregistration with the Companies Office.

The old Act only required a society to have officers. Under the new Act, a society

must have a committee.

Membership is a key point of difference for incorporated societies. It is a source of strength as a member led organisation can draw on the enthusiasm of its member base.

The new Act requires an officer to disclose when they are interested in “a matter”. meaning a society’s performance of its activities or exercise of its powers, or a transaction made or entered into, or proposed to be entered into, by the society.

Unlike the old Act, the new Act requires the society’s constitution to include dispute resolution procedures, including provision for how a complaint may be made

There are reasons that a person may not be permitted to become an officer of your society, this link will take you to the Act itself.

Every Incorporated Society will need to reregister after bringing their constitution/rules up to spec - here's how and what is needed to apply.

The Companies Office also has a wide variety of information on the what, where and how of the changes to the law.