Annual Reports are a great way of finding out all about a particular company, e.g.-

• What projects have they completed during the past year
• Have they made a profit
• What are their intentions for the next financial year
• Who is on the board

Annual Reports are also very useful to consult if you are thinking of applying for a position in a particular company. In addition, to this, a Newzindex search, which will show you what has been written in the media about that company, would also be very useful. Newzindex is available via the internet on Knowledge Basket (by subscription only). However, a print copy of this is held near the business directories on the first floor of the Central Library. The index is searchable by company name, sector or personal name.

The collection mainly comprises annual and interim reports, but may also include statements of corporate intent and prospectuses and profiles and other company information. The collection does not profess to include every company, organisation or government agency annual report available. Many companies now post their annual reports on their website, and no longer publish a physical copy. Where possible, two copies of the latest annual report are held, one being reference, the other available for short-term loan (ask at the north end, First Floor enquiries desk). Back-runs of reports are kept where possible.

The collection is filed by logical "themes" eg Health Authorities, Energy providers, Port Authorities, District Health Boards, Crown Research Institutes, Industry/producer boards, Tertiary institutes, and charitable organisations, then a straightforward alphabetical section of all other companies.

In the same area we also keep a small collection of Australian and international financial reports.

Recently we have taken possession of a collection of newspaper clippings, prospectuses, annual reports, and other documents (we are grateful to the Evening Post for this donation), in many cases dating from the 1970's, for a number of New Zealand companies, both large and small. Many of these companies either no longer exist, or are not publicly listed. Some will be integrated with the existing collection at a later date, but meantime they can be found housed on the first floor north, adjacent to the Science and Humanities Workroom. It would be useful, therefore, to check both collections.

The annual reports for Government Departments/Ministries who also choose to issue a separate glossy report in addition to the one tabled in Parliament in the A-J's can also be found on the 2nd floor alongside the A-J's.

Microfiche
Microfiche copies of some New Zealand company annual reports from 1980 to 1994 are kept on top of the the vertical files housing the New Zealand public companies on the first floor of the central library. (Australian Graduate School of Management annual report file.)

CD-ROMs
The IRG (ex Datex) CD-ROM, which can be accessed at the Science and Humanities desk on the first floor of the Central Library, has indepth company financial data for about 140 New Zealand publically listed companies, as well as company announcements, forecasts and details of the top 40 shareholders. Of these 140 companies, roughly 23 have full annual reports available on the site.
The IRG site also has, under its free services section, links to publicly listed New Zealand company websites. If you are wanting New Zealand and Australian stock exchange information, company share prices, etc, Wellington City Libraries has a subscription to IRG online research. (Please ask at the Science and Humanities desk).

Last updated 13 November 2007
Home page | Top of page