You only pay if you want copies of the records. The Archives may only refuse you access on grounds set out in the Archives Act. The Archives Act also provides for accelerated and special access. Accelerated access is public access granted to classes of records before they are 30 years old. It is granted at the discretion of agencies and is rarely given.
Special access is a type of privileged access given to approved individuals.
Those who meet the necessary criteria are given access to records that are not available for general public access. For more information ask to see the leaflet about special access. The Privacy Act The Privacy Act 1988 does not provide a right of access to records. This is already provided by the FOI and Archives Acts. The Act imposes legal obligations on agencies and gives you the right to complain to the Privacy Commissioner about how your personal information is collected, stored, disclosed, amended and used.