Annual Report and Business Plan 1999-2000 - Business.govt.nz

1998/99 - National Manager’s Review
Evolution, rather than revolution, is the norm for most organisations. However, the past year has seen revolutionary
changes for the Companies Office - both in terms of its internal administration and its external services.
The year began with a substantial restructuring. The objective of it was simple – to organise the Companies Office
in such a manner that it can continue to deliver new and existing services to the highest possible standards - and
at lower costs. The efficiencies of scale and effect of electronic services saw a number of services centralised to
single locations. At the same time, a national on-line services team was established with staff based in all the
regional offices.
As a consequence of these changes, the regional offices no longer exist to replicate administration across the
country, nor to anchor clients to the outdated services and practices. Rather they now provide a liaison point for
client communication and support as the Companies Office rapidly moves towards the electronic age.
The second revolution occurred in April with our launch of the world’s first Internet-based company incorporation
service. The launch was more than a symbolic step towards a fully electronic register. It also placed the ability
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to maintain and search commercial information on public registers firmly in the hands of the business community.
The result is increased speed and accuracy, lower fees and compliance costs, and greater access to our services.
The spectre of the millennium bug, spiralling IT costs and the pace of change have made many people understandably
wary of the Information Age. However during the past year we have continued to roll out incremental developments
– punctuated by milestones such as the Internet incorporation service – in a manner that convinces clients that
the Internet is not a case of the emperor’s new clothes. It has a permanent and critical place in the business
community.
I am confident that our clients have heard and accepted this message. As the report on business trends shows,
the migration to electronic services throughout the year has been at a truly phenomenal rate. It reinforces my
belief in the importance of complementing technological developments with a strong client communication and
support strategy.
Client communication remains a critical part of our desire to enhance service standards. To that end the client user
groups have continued to provide us with a valuable feedback source. At a national level the Companies Office