Change to a trading name

What private training establishments need to know and do when there's a change to their trading name

As part of maintaining registration, a private training establishment (PTE) must notify us of any changes to its trading name.

The Companies Act 1993 requires companies to clearly state their legal name in all documentation.

Companies Act 1993 (external link)

NZQA expects that a PTE will ensure that its registered PTE name (not just its trading name) is transparent in all its documentation:

  • website
  • brochures
  • manuals
  • offers of place
  • student handbook
  • employment agreements.

The registered PTE name is as it appears on the Companies Register.

Guidance on PTE trading names

Under section 390 of the Education and Training Act 2020, you cannot use any of these terms in a PTE trading name:

  • university
  • polytechnic
  • institute of technology.

Section 390 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (external link)

Your chosen trading name shouldn't be the same as another organisation, or so similar that your PTE is likely to be mistaken for another organisation.

We may point out similarities, but we don't approve or regulate PTEs' trading names.

How to tell us your PTE's trading name is changing

We can only accept a notification from a current governing member of your PTE.

The notification must include details of the trading name change, including any changes to website or staff email addresses.

You can notify us by email:

Email client services

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