Basics
How do I vet a new supplier in NZ?
Updated 2026-07
Start by confirming the legal entity: the exact registered name and NZBN, not the brand on the website. Then look at the company's current status and history, and test whether it can deliver at the volume you need before you sign supply terms.
Key facts
- Vet the legal entity, not the brand. Names on websites and invoices often differ.
- The NZBN pins a supplier to one entity even where several businesses share a similar name.
- Incorporation date shows how long the current entity has existed, which can differ from how long the brand has.
- A trial order tests capacity better than any document.
Confirm who you are dealing with
Get the supplier's exact legal name and NZBN from them in writing. A brand or trading name is not enough, because the entity behind a brand can change without the website changing.
Then confirm the entity is registered and check its current status. A company in liquidation or receivership, or one removed from the register, is a different conversation from one in good standing.
Look at the history and the people
Incorporation date tells you how long this entity has existed. A brand that has been around for a decade can sit on a company registered last quarter, and that gap is worth understanding before the supplier becomes critical to you.
Look at the directors and any recent changes. None of this is disqualifying on its own. It is context for how much weight the relationship can safely carry. A company check brings the entity, status and history together in one pass.
Test capacity, not just paperwork
A clean record does not prove the supplier can deliver at your volume. Ask for references from customers of a similar size, and get lead times in writing, including what happens when stock is short.
Where the input matters, place a trial order before you commit annual volume. How a supplier handles a small order under no pressure tells you a lot about the large ones.
Put it in the terms
Record the legal name and NZBN in the supply agreement, and check that invoices arrive in that same name. Cover quality standards and the remedy when delivery fails.
Supplier standing can change after you sign, so re-check before renewals and volume increases, and keep critical suppliers under ongoing monitoring rather than a one-off check.
Questions and answers
Is a GST number enough to verify a supplier?
No. A GST number relates to tax, not identity. Confirm the exact legal name and NZBN, then check the company's current status on the register.
How often should I re-check an existing supplier?
Status can change at any time. Re-check before renewing terms or increasing volumes, and put suppliers you depend on under continuous monitoring.
Sources
- Companies Register (companiesoffice.govt.nz)
- NZBN Register (nzbn.govt.nz)
Check a company before you commit
Run due diligence on any New Zealand company and see the full picture in one place.