About the NZBN

The NZBN is a unique identifier for your business

The New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) is a globally unique identifier, available to every Kiwi business. Whether you’re self-employed or a major corporation, there’s an NZBN for you.

Your NZBN makes doing business faster and easier because it links to your core business information (known as Primary Business Data). This includes things such as your trading name, phone number or email.

That means anyone you do business or interact with (such as suppliers or customers) can easily, quickly and digitally access all the details they need about your business in order to work with you. You won’t have to keep repeating this information or updating it in multiple places. With an NZBN your business becomes part of a single, searchable register for all Kiwi businesses.

The New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) Act came into effect in 2016, enabling all businesses to be allocated or register for an NZBN. That includes government agencies, who are working to implement the NZBN into their systems and processes. The flow-on effect will be that agencies can get core business information from the NZBN Register, eliminating the need for businesses to provide and update it.

GS1 New Zealand logo

Each NZBN is a Global Location Number (GLN), supplied by GS1 New Zealand(external link), that uses the GS1 global numbering standards (the same standards used to create bar codes). GLNs are an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard and part of a credible international system used widely in international trade, supply chain logistics and electronic messaging systems.

Check out our video, it explains more about how the NZBN can help transform the way you do business.

Read the transcript

Video transcript

Visual

A white screen appears with an animated sign in the middle, resembling a number plate. The number plate reads ‘Mushman’.

Audio

Just like every car has a number plate, now every New Zealand business has an official way to identify itself.

Visual

The letters and numbers on the number plate begin spinning and changing to different digits. The animated number plate expands to accommodate more digits. The numbers rotate and then land on a single 13 digit number. The number plate transforms into an orange box, containing the 13 digit number. The shot zooms out, to show the orange box floating above a van, which is driving through a street in a town. The vehicle has the logo ‘Pete’s Portable Portabellos’ on the side and has a large ornamental mushroom suspended on top of the vehicle.

As Pete drives along in his vehicle, 13 digit NZBNs are seen suspended in orange boxes pop-up above each business the van passes, representing the unique NZBNs of these businesses.

Audio

Introducing the New Zealand Business Number – a unique number that sets your business apart from the rest, both here and overseas.

Visual

Pete from Pete’s Portable Portabellos is shown carrying a large tray of mushrooms to a woman wearing an apron and holding a clipboard. She’s standing of the restaurant she works in. They both have their 13 digit NZBNs suspended above them in orange boxes.

The scene then cuts to the Pete’s Portable Portabellos vehicle driving along the street with NZBN numbers popping up above each building as the vehicle drives along.

Audio

Over time the New Zealand Business Number will become the main identifier of your business. Using it will speed up your interactions with government, your suppliers, customers and other businesses.

Visual

The screen goes blue and then a computer screen pops up. The computer is searching for a business address in the NZBN Register.

Government agency logos then pop up around the computer screen – Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, ACC, Inland Revenue, NZ Trade and Enterprise, Statistics NZ, Callaghan Innovation.

The computer shows a business updating their address in the NZBN Register and orange lines pointing to all the surrounding agencies. Tick boxes then appear by each agency to show the business’s information has been automatically updated with each agency.

Audio

Basic facts about your business are held in the NZBN register. And in time these can be shared across government agencies and the businesses you work with. This means when you update your details in the register they’ll automatically update across your business network.

Visual

The computer screen swings out of shot and the town street appears again. A cement truck is parked on the street with a construction worker standing on some scaffolding. Pete from Pete’s Portable Portobellos is shown talking to the construction worker.

The screen is then split into five scenes at once:

The middle scene shows the scaffolding morphing into a semi complete building with the construction worker hammering on top of the building site.
On the top left of the screen shows a hand using a computer mouse. The image then changes to an application being approved.
The image on the bottom left shows little circles with people silhouetted in them and then shows lines joining each silhouette together.
On the top right of the screen shows a tax invoice which then morphs into remittance form.
On the bottom right of the screen shows two people dressed in business clothes shaking hands with Pete from Pete’s Portable Portobellos. Both have their NZBNs suspended above them in an orange boxes.

Audio

Plus, the New Zealand Business Number will create a truckload of new services and business opportunities. And these will grow with time. Using the NZBN to identify your business and share your basic information is an easy way to start.

Visual

The screen changes again to show the town street with different vehicles driving past – Paula’s Pastries, Pippa’s Pianos, Patrick’s Plumbing. The vehicles and all the buildings on the screen all have their NZBNs floating above them.

A large white truck then drives past and fills the screen and has the NZBN logo on the side – the screen goes white and shows the NZBN logo and says “Find out more at nzbn.govt.nz”

Audio

We’re working with government agencies and large New Zealand businesses to grow the NZBN network. So activate your NZBN now and together we can make doing business in New Zealand easier. Visit nzbn.govt.nz to find out more today.

Your information is held securely on the NZBN Register

Other businesses you work with can access your business information from one central location online — the NZBN Register. When they look up your business and find your NZBN, it also gives them confidence that your business is real.

When you want to check other businesses’ NZBNs you can automate this process by connecting your business systems directly to the NZBN Register, for example through the NZBN API or via your software provider. This is easier and saves time, particularly if yours is a larger business that deals with multiple suppliers and customers with NZBNs.

Learn more about NZBN services you can use

Get your NZBN

Search for your NZBN