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)(opens in new window), 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.

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

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