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Setting up a trust in New Zealand: steps and documents
Seven stages carry a family from a first conversation to a funded trust, and setting up a trust in New Zealand follows them in order: enquiry, identity and source-of-funds checks, structure design, drafting by a law firm, signing, registration with Inland Revenue, and transfer of the assets. Gather the documents below first.
Reviewed by a senior trust administrator, updated
Seven stages, who does what
Select a stage to read what slows or speeds it.
- First conversation or quote requestYou
- Identity and source-of-funds checksOne Pacific Trust
- Structure designOne Pacific Trust
- DraftingLaw firm, bank, adviser or trustee
- Signing and acceptanceYou
- Registration with Inland RevenueOne Pacific Trust
- Account opening and transferLaw firm, bank, adviser or trustee
YouOne Pacific TrustLaw firm, bank, adviser or trustee
Key facts
- Registration
- Register in myIR with the trust deed, settlements and connected persons[1]
- Trustee requirement
- A New Zealand foreign trust must have one or more resident trustees[1]
- Reporting to authorities
- Contact trustee must register and meet disclosure and annual return duties[2]
Numbers in brackets point to the Sources list at the end of this page.
How the process runs
First conversation or quote request
You describe the family, the assets and the aim, and we reply with the questions that matter for your case.
Identity and source-of-funds checks
We collect your documents and check them against independent sources; the resident trustee reviews the file.
Structure design
We, the resident trustee, the law firm, the accountant and your tax adviser agree the shape of the trust.
Drafting
A law firm drafts the deed and helps with your letter of wishes, and you review both with your lawyer.
Signing and acceptance
You sign the deed, and the trustees formally accept office.
Registration with Inland Revenue
The contact trustee gets an IRD number for the trust and registers it in myIR.
Account opening and transfer
The bank opens the trust account, and each asset is moved into the trustees' names.
Before you start: what you decide
A trust starts with decisions only you can make. Settle these before the first call, even roughly:
- Purpose. Holding family investments, passing on a company, providing for children, or a mix.
- Assets. Cash, listed securities, shares in private companies or property, and where each one sits.
- Beneficiaries. A named list, a class such as “my descendants”, or both.
- Control. Whether you want to keep investment powers, appoint a protector, or add a private company.
None of these choices is final at this stage. They give the resident trustee and the lawyer enough to propose a structure.
They also show early that a New Zealand foreign trust gives its details to Inland Revenue. The overview of trusts in New Zealand explains what that means.
Step by step: from enquiry to signed deed
The process runs in the same order for almost every family. What changes is the time each step takes, which depends on documents and third parties.
- Enquiry. You tell us the family, the assets and the aim. We reply with the questions that matter and a list of documents.
- Identity checks. We verify who you are and where the wealth came from. The resident trustee reviews the file before it accepts you.
- Structure design. We, the resident trustee, the law firm, the accountant and your tax adviser agree what the trust holds and who has which powers.
- Drafting. A law firm drafts the deed and helps with your letter of wishes. You review both with your own lawyer.
- Signing. You sign the deed, and the trustees accept office. The law firm confirms the signing formalities.
- Registration. The contact trustee applies for an IRD number for the trust and registers it in myIR (source: Inland Revenue, Register a New Zealand foreign trust).
- Funding. The bank opens the trust account, and each asset moves into the trustees’ names.
The trust needs one or more resident trustees for registration (same source). In our service a partner firm in New Zealand takes that seat, and its name is in your documents before you sign.
Identity checks usually set the pace, so start gathering papers early. The tax and reporting page explains what the trustees file afterwards.
Documents the trustee asks for
You supply three kinds of paper: identity documents, evidence of where the money and wealth came from, and the information that goes into the deed and the registration.
| Document | From whom | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Passport and proof of address | Settlor, protector, anyone with control | Identity checks |
| Occupation and career history | Settlor | Context for the wealth origin |
| Evidence of where the funds and wealth came from | Settlor | Shows where the assets came from |
| Tax identification numbers and addresses | Settlor, beneficiaries, connected persons | Each connected person is listed on registration |
| Trust deed and any amending deeds | Trustees | Uploaded when the trust is registered |
| Incorporation papers, share register, ownership chart | Any company going into the trust | Confirms ownership and control |
Basis: our onboarding checklist and Inland Revenue, Register a New Zealand foreign trust, accessed 2026-11-05.
Registration also asks for the settlements made onto the trust, with date, type and amount (same source). Keep records of every transfer.
Documents in a language other than English usually need a certified translation. If a document is old or hard to obtain, tell us early.
Identity and source-of-funds checks
These checks come first because everything else waits on them. We identify the settlor, the protector and anyone else who controls the trust, and verify who they are.
The trustee also needs to understand where the funds came from, and how the wider wealth was built.
If we do not meet you in person, we take at least one extra step to confirm who you are.
Examples are a further set of identity documents, supplementary checks on the information given, or a first payment from an account in your own name.
The trustee decides which steps fit your case and keeps a record of them.
If you or someone connected with the trust holds or has held a senior public role, we run enhanced checks and a senior manager approves the relationship before it starts.
After the trust is set up
Once the assets are in, the trust moves into routine administration. The trustees hold meetings when decisions are needed, keep minutes and accounts, and refresh identity checks on a schedule set by risk.
To keep the foreign-sourced income exemption, the contact trustee must meet the disclosure and annual return duties (source: Inland Revenue, Foreign exemption trusts).
You can update your letter of wishes at any time, and the deed sets out how beneficiaries are added or removed.
The legal features of New Zealand trusts explain the rules, and the frequently asked questions cover the rest.
The guide to what you pay explains who charges for each part of the work.
When you have a rough picture of the purpose and the assets, ask us for a quote and we come back with the next questions.
Frequently asked questions
How do you set up a trust in New Zealand?
You start with a conversation or a quote request. We then run identity and source-of-funds checks, design the structure with the resident trustee and the law firm, and the firm drafts the deed. After signing, the contact trustee registers the trust with Inland Revenue and the assets move in.
How long does set-up take in New Zealand?
It depends on how complete your documents are and on third parties: the law firm, the accountant, the bank and Inland Revenue. Checks on who you are and where the wealth came from take longest when papers are old or held abroad. We give you a plan with each step once your papers are in.
Which documents do I need for a trust in New Zealand?
Passport and proof of address for each person who controls the trust, evidence of where your wealth came from, tax identification numbers for the people connected to the trust, and ownership papers for any company that goes in. The table on this page lists each item and why it is asked for.
Sources
- Inland Revenue: Register a New Zealand foreign trust, read 2026-11-05.
- Inland Revenue: Foreign exemption trusts, read 2026-11-05.