Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995

1: Short Title and commencement
1: This Act may be cited as the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995
2: This Act shall come into force on 1 September 1995. Section 1(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 5(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
1: Preliminary
1A: Purpose
The purposes of this Act are—
a: to require the recording and verification of information relating to births, deaths, marriages, civil unions, name changes, adoptions, and sexual assignments and reassignments, so as to provide—
i: a source of demographic information, and information about health, mortality, and other matters important for government; and
ii: an official record of births, deaths, marriages, civil unions, and name changes that can be used as evidence of those events and of age, identity, descent, whakapapa, and New Zealand citizenship; and
b: to regulate access to, and disclosure of, information recorded in respect of these matters; and
c: to regulate the provision and effect of certificates relating to information recorded in respect of births, deaths, marriages, civil unions, and name changes. Section 1A inserted 24 January 2009 section 6 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
2: Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— adopted person section 24 section 25 adoption information approved information sharing agreement information sharing agreement section 138 associate coroner Coroners Act 2006 birth birth certificate
a: issued by, and signed or sealed by or stamped with the seal of, a Registrar; and
b: containing registered birth information;— and, in relation to any person, means a birth certificate containing registered birth information relating to the person's birth birth information body celebrant
a: in relation to a marriage, a person who is a marriage celebrant under the Marriage Act 1955
b: in relation to a civil union, a person who is a civil union celebrant under the Civil Union Act 2004 Chief Archivist Public Records Act 2005 child civil union certificate
a: a document that is issued by, and signed or sealed by or stamped with the seal of, a Registrar, and that contains registered civil union information; and
b: in relation to any civil union, means a civil union certificate containing registered civil union information relating to that civil union civil union information computer system
a: used for storing information recorded under this Act or a former Act; and
b: accessible by the Registrar-General or a Registrar; and
c: under the control of—
i: the Registrar-General or a Registrar; or
ii: a person (other than the Registrar-General or a Registrar) who has the function of managing, on behalf of the Registrar-General, information recorded under this Act or a former Act coroner Coroners Act 2006 coroner's authorisation section 42 dead foetus death death certificate
a: issued by, and signed or sealed by or stamped with the seal of, a Registrar; and
b: containing registered death information;— and, in relation to any person, means a death certificate containing registered death information relating to the person's death death information Deputy Registrar-General section 80(1) Director-General of an intelligence and security agency section 4 disposal to dispose of doctor section 114(1)﻿(a) document documentary Family Court section 4 foreign registration authority former Act Births and Deaths Registration Act 1951 Marriage Act 1955 former Adoption Act Infants Act 1908 Maori Land Act 1931 Maori Affairs Act 1953 hospital section 58(4) index intelligence and security agency section 4 marriage Marriage Act 1955 marriage certificate
a: issued by, and signed or sealed by or stamped with the seal of, a Registrar; and
b: containing registered marriage information;— and, in relation to any marriage, means a marriage certificate containing registered marriage information relating to that marriage marriage information medical midwife section 114(3) Minister miscarriage name change certificate
a: a document—
i: issued by, and signed or sealed by, or stamped with the seal of, a Registrar; and
ii: containing registered name change information; and
b: in relation to a person, a document within the meaning of paragraph (a) that contains registered name change information relating to each of the person's name changes name change information New Zealand non-disclosure direction section 75A(2)﻿(b) occupier prescribed fee Privacy Commissioner section 13 record register Registrar section 81(1) Registrar-General section 79(1) service marriage section 2 source document
a: contains information recorded under this Act or a former Act; and
b: is accessible by the Registrar-General or a Registrar; and
c: is under the control of—
i: the Registrar-General or a Registrar; or
ii: a person (other than the Registrar-General or a Registrar) who has the function of managing, on behalf of the Registrar-General, information recorded under this Act or a former Act; or
iii: the Chief Archivist standard form section 87B still-birth still-born child
a: weighed 400 g or more when it issued from its mother; or
b: issued from its mother after the 20th week of pregnancy unavailable working day 1951 No 22 s 2 Section 2 approved information sharing agreement information sharing agreement inserted 22 August 2017 section 11 Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Act 2017 Section 2 approved information sharing agreement information sharing agreement amended 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020 Section 2 associate coroner inserted 5 April 2023 section 36 Coroners Amendment Act 2023 Section 2 celebrant substituted 26 April 2005 section 38(1) Civil Union Act 2004 Section 2 Chief Archivist amended 21 April 2005 section 67(1) Public Records Act 2005 Section 2 civil union certificate inserted 26 April 2005 section 38(2) Civil Union Act 2004 Section 2 civil union information inserted 26 April 2005 section 38(2) Civil Union Act 2004 Section 2 coroner inserted 5 April 2023 section 36 Coroners Amendment Act 2023 Section 2 coroner's authorisation inserted 24 January 2009 section 7(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 coroner’s order repealed 24 January 2009 section 7(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 delivery repealed 7 July 2010 section 4 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010 Section 2 Director-General of an intelligence and security agency inserted 28 September 2017 section 246(2) Intelligence and Security Act 2017 Section 2 Director of Security repealed 28 September 2017 section 246(1) Intelligence and Security Act 2017 Section 2 doctor substituted 18 September 2004 section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 Section 2 doctor's certificate repealed 31 January 2018 section 11 Burial and Cremation Amendment Act 2016 Section 2 Family Court replaced 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 2 foreign registration authority inserted 24 January 2009 section 7(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 funeral director repealed 24 January 2009 section 7(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 give a doctor’s certificate repealed 24 January 2009 section 7(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 hospital substituted 1 October 2002 section 58(1) Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 Section 2 index substituted 28 July 1997 section 4(2) Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Amendment Act 1997 Section 2 intelligence and security agency inserted 28 September 2017 section 246(2) Intelligence and Security Act 2017 Section 2 midwife substituted 18 September 2004 section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 Section 2 name change certificate inserted 24 January 2009 section 7(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 name change information inserted 24 January 2009 section 7(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 non-disclosure direction inserted 22 August 2017 section 11 Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Act 2017 Section 2 Privacy Commissioner inserted 24 January 2009 section 7(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 Privacy Commissioner amended 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020 Section 2 record inserted 24 January 2009 section 7(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 register substituted 24 January 2009 section 7(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 source document inserted 24 January 2009 section 7(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 standard form inserted 24 January 2009 section 7(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 2 to record repealed 24 January 2009 section 7(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
3: Act binds the Crown
This Act binds the Crown.
4: No information to be recorded or altered except in accordance with Act
1: Information must not be recorded under this Act except as expressly provided in this Act.
2: Information recorded under this Act or a former Act must not be removed or altered except as expressly provided in this Act. Section 4 substituted 24 January 2009 section 8 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
2: Births
5: Births in New Zealand to be notified and registered
Every birth in New Zealand shall be notified and registered in accordance with this Part. 1951 No 22 s 6(1)
5A: Preliminary notice of birth
1: A preliminary notice must be given in accordance with this section for each birth in New Zealand.
2: If a birth takes place during or immediately before the mother's admission to hospital, the occupier of the hospital must give the preliminary notice.
3: If a birth does not take place during or immediately before the mother's admission to hospital, the preliminary notice must be given by—
a: a doctor, if he or she is present at the birth; or
b: a midwife, if he or she is present at the birth but a doctor is not present; or
c: the occupier of premises where the birth takes place or where the mother is admitted immediately after the birth, if neither a doctor nor a midwife is present.
4: A preliminary notice is given by completing, signing, and giving the standard form preliminary notice to a Registrar within 5 working days after the birth.
5: The Registrar-General must notify the Director-General of Health of all still-births for which a preliminary notice has been given. Section 5A inserted 24 January 2009 section 9 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
6: Births outside New Zealand
Except as provided in sections 7(2) 8 Part 4
7: Foundlings
1: A person who—
a: believes that a child in the person's charge is recently born and was found abandoned in New Zealand; and
b: is not satisfied that a Registrar has been notified of the child's birth— shall as soon as is practicable tell a Police employee
2: As far as it is practicable to do so, the Registrar-General shall register the birth of all children of whose finding the Registrar-General is notified under subsection (1). 1951 No 22 s 16 Section 7(1) amended 1 October 2008 section 130(1) Policing Act 2008
8: Births on New Zealand aircraft or ships
Any person may notify to the Registrar-General, and the Registrar-General may cause to be registered, as if it had occurred in New Zealand, any birth that occurred outside New Zealand on an aircraft registered in New Zealand under the Civil Aviation Act 1990 Maritime Transport Act 1994 Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971 1951 No 22 s 15A Section 8 amended 7 July 2010 section 5 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010
9: Parents primarily responsible for notifying birth
1: Both parents of a child born in New Zealand must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the birth,—
a: jointly notify a Registrar of the birth in accordance with this Act; and
b: in the case of a child born on or after 1 January 2006, inform the Registrar whether or not, to the best of their knowledge, either or both of the child's parents are New Zealand citizens or persons entitled, under the Immigration Act 2009
2: However, a Registrar may accept the form signed by only 1 parent if he or she is satisfied that—
a: the child has only 1 parent at law; or
b: the other parent is unavailable; or
ba: it is not reasonably practicable to obtain the other parent's signature because—
i: he or she is overseas; and
ii: he or she cannot be contacted within a period of time that is reasonable in the circumstances; or
c: requiring the other parent to sign the form would cause unwarranted distress to either of the parents.
3: A person who is not a child's parent must not notify a Registrar of the child's birth and is not capable of doing so except as provided in sections 7 8 10
4: For the purposes of this section, a child has 1 parent at law if—
a: the child is born as a result of a woman acting alone in a situation described in section 20(1) 22(1)
b: the donor of the ovum, embryo, or semen (as the case may be) for the pregnancy does not become the partner of the woman after the time of conception but before the birth is notified for registration. Section 9 substituted 24 January 2009 section 10 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 9(1)﻿(b) amended 29 November 2010 section 406(1) Immigration Act 2009 Section 9(2)﻿(ba) inserted 7 July 2010 section 6 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010
10: Guardian or authorised person may notify birth
A guardian of a child other than a parent, or a person authorised by the Registrar-General to notify the birth, may notify a Registrar of the child's birth if—
a: both parents have failed or refused to do so; or
b: the child's parent has failed or refused to do so (if section 9(2) Section 10 substituted 24 January 2009 section 10 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
11: Manner of notification of birth
1: Subject to subsection (3), a person notifying a Registrar of a birth shall do so by completing and signing the standard
2: Subject to subsection (3), a person who completes and signs the standard
3: Where—
a: any person has notified a Registrar of a birth by completing and signing the standard
b: it has not arrived or has been lost or destroyed,— a Registrar may authorise the person, or any other person required by section 9(1) section 10 1951 No 22 s 11 Section 11(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 11(2) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 11(3)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
12: Registration of births
1: Unless authorised by the Registrar-General to register births, a Registrar who is notified of a birth in New Zealand shall, to the extent that the information given is information required by the standard (and subject to section 12A
2: Subject to sections 12A 14 to 16 82
a: a Registrar (being a Registrar authorised by the Registrar-General to register births) who—
i: is notified of a birth in New Zealand; or
ii: has been sent birth information under subsection (1)— shall, to the extent that the information given is information required by the standard
b: if sent birth information under subsection (1), the Registrar-General shall, to the extent that it is information required by the standard
3: Every still-birth shall so be registered that the fact that the birth is a still-birth can clearly be ascertained. Section 12(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 12(1) amended 21 April 2005 section 16 Citizenship Amendment Act 2005 Section 12(2) amended 21 April 2005 section 16 Citizenship Amendment Act 2005 Section 12(2)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 12(2)﻿(b) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
12A: Record of citizenship
1: If a Registrar is satisfied that a person born on or after 1 January 2006 is a New Zealand citizen by birth in terms of section 6 as part of the child's birth information
2: If the chief executive or other appropriate officer of the department for the time being responsible for the administration of the Citizenship Act 1977 as part of the child's birth information
3: In deciding for the purposes of subsection (1) whether or not a person is a New Zealand citizen by birth, a Registrar must have regard to the following information, if available:
a: information provided by any guardian or parent of the person:
b: any birth information registered under this Act or a former Act about the parents or parent of the person:
c: information about the citizenship status or immigration status of the person or the parents or parent of the person:
d: whether or not the parents or parent have immunity from jurisdiction under the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1968 Consular Privileges and Immunities Act 1971 Section 12A inserted 21 April 2005 section 16 Citizenship Amendment Act 2005 Section 12A(1) amended 7 July 2010 section 7(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010 Section 12A(2) amended 7 July 2010 section 7(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010 Section 12A(3)﻿(b) substituted 7 July 2010 section 7(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010
13: Registration of certain still-births
1: This section applies to every still-birth that occurred after 24 July 1991 and before the commencement of this Act.
2: Subject to subsection (3), a still-birth to which this section applies is registrable to the same extent, and in the same manner, as if it had occurred after the commencement of this Act.
3: Nothing in subsection (2) requires any person to notify a Registrar 1951 No 22 s 7 Section 13(3) amended 7 July 2010 section 8 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010
14: Maori custom marriages
1: No Registrar shall include in the registered birth information any information relating to a Maori custom marriage entered into after 31 March 1952.
2: All registered information relating to a Maori custom marriage shall so be recorded that the fact that the marriage is a Maori custom marriage can clearly be ascertained.
15: Registration of parents' details
1: A Registrar who is authorised by the Registrar-General to register births must register, as part of the birth information of a child, information about the identity of—
a: the child's parents if the information is on the standard form signed by both parents; or
b: a parent of the child if the information is on the standard form signed by the parent and accepted under section 9(2)
2: The Registrar-General must register or direct a Registrar who is authorised by the Registrar-General to register births to register, as part of the birth information of a child, information about the identity of a parent of the child if—
a: the form is accepted under section 9(2)﻿(b) or (c)
b: the information relates to the child's father, and—
i: the Family Court
ii: the Family Court
iii: the man has been appointed or declared a guardian of the child under section 19 20
c: the parent requests, in writing, his or her details to be included and the Registrar-General is satisfied that either or both of the following apply:
i: the person is a parent of the child:
ii: the other parent does not dispute the accuracy of the information.
3: For the purposes of this section and section 15A Section 15 substituted 24 January 2009 section 11 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 15(2)﻿(b)﻿(i) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 15(2)﻿(b)﻿(ii) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
15A: Appeals relating to registration of parents' details
1: This section applies to a person affected by a decision of the Registrar-General under section 15
a: register as part of a child's birth information any information indicating or purporting to indicate that a person is the child's parent, or direct a Registrar to do so; or
b: decline to register as part of a child's birth information any information indicating or purporting to indicate that a person is the child's parent, or decline to direct a Registrar to do so.
2: The person affected may, within 28 days after receiving written notice of the Registrar-General's decision, appeal against the decision to the office of the Family Court
3: The Family Court must, when considering an appeal,—
a: give every person the court thinks has an interest in the matter an opportunity to be heard; and
b: receive any evidence the court thinks fit.
4: The court must then—
a: either confirm the Registrar-General's decision or make a decision that it thinks fit; and
b: where necessary, direct the Registrar-General to include or delete the information concerned in or from the information recorded under this Act or a former Act.
5: This section does not apply in relation to a decision of the Registrar-General that gives effect to a declaration made by the Family Court the Family Court Section 15A inserted 24 January 2009 section 11 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 15A(2) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 15A(5) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
16: Registration of births notified late
No Registrar other than the Registrar-General shall register a birth notified more than 2 years after the birth. 1951 No 22 ss 11(2), 12, 14
17: Parents who marry
or enter into civil union or civil union
1: If satisfied that—
a: the parents of any person married , or entered into a civil union with,
b: either—
i: the parents have jointly requested the Registrar-General to record information relating to their marriage or civil union
ii: one parent is unavailable and the other has so requested,— the Registrar-General shall do so.
2: Any person affected by a decision of the Registrar-General to decline to record information relating to a marriage or civil union to the office of the Family Court
a: giving every person the court thinks has an interest in the matter an opportunity to be heard; and
b: receiving any evidence the court thinks fit,— either confirm the Registrar-General's decision or make such decision as the Family Court thinks fit and, where necessary, direct the Registrar-General to cause to be included in the information recorded under this Act or a former Act in respect of the birth concerned the information in dispute.
3: For the purposes of this section, the only information recorded under this Act or a former Act in respect of an adopted person's birth is the information originally recorded. 1951 No 22 s 19A Section 17 amended 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 Section 17(1)﻿(a) amended 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 Section 17(1)﻿(b)﻿(i) amended 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 Section 17(2) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 17(2) amended 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005
3: Names
18: Acceptance of names
1: A Registrar shall not include any name or names in the information recorded under this Act or a former Act relating to a person's birth, or omit or amend any name or names so included, unless—
a: the effect is that there are so included—
i: 1 name designated to be treated as the person's surname; and
ii: 1 or more other names; or
b: the religious or philosophical beliefs, or cultural traditions, of—
i: the person, if the person has attained the age of 18 years or earlier married or entered into a civil union
ii: a parent (living or dead) or living guardian of the person, if the person has not attained the age of 18 years or earlier married or entered into a civil union require the person to bear only 1 name; and the effect is that there is so included only 1 name.
2: Subject to subsections (1) and (3), a Registrar shall include in the information recorded under this Act or a former Act relating to a person's birth any name or combination of names specified unless, in the Registrar's opinion, it may be undesirable in the public interest for the person to bear it.
3: If, in the opinion of a Registrar (other than the Registrar-General) who would otherwise include any name or combination of names in the information recorded under this Act or a former Act relating to a person's birth, it may be undesirable in the public interest for the person to bear it, the Registrar shall notify the Registrar-General of the name or combination of names concerned, and shall not include it unless directed by the Registrar-General to do so.
4: The Registrar-General shall include a name or combination of names in the information recorded under this Act or a former Act relating to a person's birth (or direct a Registrar to do so) unless, in the Registrar-General's opinion, it is undesirable in the public interest for the person to bear it.
5: Any person affected by a decision of the Registrar-General to decline to include any name or combination of names in the information recorded under this Act or a former Act relating to a birth, or to decline to direct a Registrar to do so, may, within 28 days of receiving written notice that the Registrar-General has so declined, appeal against the decision to the office of the Family Court
6: On an appeal under subsection (5), the Family Court shall, unless satisfied that it is undesirable in the public interest for the person concerned to bear the name or combination of names concerned, direct the Registrar concerned to include the name or combination of names in the information recorded under this Act or a former Act in respect of the person's birth.
7: In determining an appeal under subsection (5), the Family Court—
a: shall give every person the court thinks has an interest in the matter an opportunity to be heard; and
b: may receive any evidence the court thinks fit.
8: For the purposes of this section, it is undesirable in the public interest for a person to bear a name or combination of names if, and only if,—
a: it might cause offence to a reasonable person; or
b: it is unreasonably long; or
c: without adequate justification, it is, includes, or resembles, an official title or rank. Section 18(1)﻿(b)﻿(i) amended 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 Section 18(1)﻿(b)﻿(ii) amended 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 Section 18(5) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
19: Names to be specified when birth notified
1: The person or persons who notify a Registrar of the birth of a child under section 9 10
a: 1 name designated to be treated as the child's surname and 1 or more other names; or
b: if the religious or philosophical beliefs, or cultural traditions, of a parent (whether living or dead) or living guardian of the child require the child to bear only 1 name, 1 name.
2: Nothing in subsection (1) requires any name other than a name designated to be treated as the child's surname to be specified in the notification of a still-birth.
3: Where—
a: either—
i: the Registrar-General has declined to include any name or names in the information recorded under this Act relating to a birth; or
ii: a Registrar has declined to include any name or names in the information recorded under this Act relating to a birth, and the Registrar-General has declined to direct the Registrar to do so; and
b: the Family Court the question of whether or not subsection (1) has been complied with must Section 19(1) substituted 24 January 2009 section 12(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 19(3) amended 24 January 2009 section 12(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 19(3)﻿(b) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
20: Guardians may change child's names within 2 years of birth
1: Subject to subsection (2), within 2 years of a child's birth—
a: the child's guardians jointly; or
b: if any guardians are unavailable, the other or others of them; or
c: if, on the application of one guardian, the Family Court has consented to a change in the child's name, that guardian,— may, by notice in writing to a Registrar, request the Registrar to omit, amend, or replace any name specified for the child under section 19 section 18
2: A Registrar shall not, under subsection (1), include any new names in the registration of a child's birth—
a: if the request concerned was made pursuant to an order of the Family Court, and is not in accordance with any conditions subject to which the order was made; or
b: more than once in respect of the same child, unless satisfied that there are special reasons making it appropriate to do so.
21: Definitions for sections 21A and 21B
In sections 21A 21B eligible person
a: whose birth is registered; or
b: who is a New Zealand citizen or is entitled, under the Immigration Act 2009 guardian
a: the guardians of a person; or
b: if any guardians are unavailable, the other guardian or guardians; or
c: if, on the application of 1 guardian, the Family Court has consented to a change in the person’s names, that guardian; or
d: if all guardians are unavailable, the chief executive of the department for the time being responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 Section 21 substituted 24 January 2009 section 13 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 21 eligible person amended 29 November 2010 section 406(1) Immigration Act 2009 Section 21 guardian amended 14 July 2017 section 149 Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017
21A: Application for registration of name change
1: The following persons may apply for registration of a name change:
a: an eligible person who is 18 years of age or older:
b: an eligible person who is younger than 18 years of age but who is or has been in a marriage, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship:
c: the guardian of an eligible person to whom neither of paragraph (a) or (b) applies.
2: A person applying for registration of a name change must—
a: complete the standard form and provide it to the Registrar-General; and
b: pay the prescribed fee (if any); and
c: provide one of the following to
i: a statement made, in accordance with subsection (3), by an eligible person or the guardian of an eligible person (accompanied by the eligible person’s written consent if the eligible person is 16 years of age or older and the application was made by the eligible person’s guardian) and verified—
A: electronically in a prescribed manner ( see also section 82A
B: by statutory declaration; or
ii: a deed poll executed before 1 September 1995, evidencing any change in the eligible person’s names; or
iii: a copy of a deed poll executed and filed in an office of the High Court before 1 September 1995 and certified by a Registrar of the court in which it was filed.
3: The eligible person or the guardian of the eligible person must declare, in the verified statement subsection (2)﻿(c)﻿(i)
a: an intention to abandon (and to adopt some other names instead of) the names most recently included in—
i: the eligible person’s birth information or name change information; or
ii: the registration of the eligible person’s birth in another State; or
iii: a record of a name change deposited with a foreign registration authority; or
b: that the eligible person has previously abandoned (and adopted some other names instead of) the names included in—
i: the eligible person’s birth information or name change information; or
ii: the registration of the eligible person’s birth in another State; or
iii: a record of a name change deposited with a foreign registration authority.
3A: The Registrar-General may require a person before whom a statutory declaration referred to in subsection (2)﻿(c)﻿(i)﻿(B) or section 82A(2)
a: to verify the identity of the eligible person or the guardian of the eligible person, or both, in a manner specified by the Registrar-General; and
b: to state whether he or she is satisfied of the identity of the eligible person or the guardian of the eligible person, or both.
4: A birth certificate, or some other certificate or evidence, that satisfies the Registrar-General of the date and place of the eligible person’s birth and the status of any other person making the application as the eligible person’s guardian must also be provided to
4A: The Registrar-General may require a person applying for registration of a name change to provide, with the standard form referred to in subsection (2)﻿(a) or separately, any means of identification that is reasonably necessary to confirm the identity of the eligible person or the guardian of the eligible person, or both.
5: The Registrar-General must, at the option of the eligible person or the guardian of the eligible person, return or destroy the certificate or evidence provided under subsection (4) or (4A) Section 21A inserted 24 January 2009 section 13 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 21A(2) replaced 26 March 2015 section 4(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2015 Section 21A(2)﻿(c) amended 16 December 2017 section 4(1) Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017 Section 21A(2)﻿(c)﻿(i) replaced 16 December 2017 section 4(2) Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017 Section 21A(3) amended 16 December 2017 section 4(3) Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017 Section 21A(3) amended 26 March 2015 section 4(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2015 Section 21A(3A) inserted 26 March 2015 section 4(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2015 Section 21A(3A) amended 16 December 2017 section 4(4) Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017 Section 21A(4) amended 26 March 2015 section 4(4) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2015 Section 21A(4A) inserted 26 March 2015 section 4(5) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2015 Section 21A(5) amended 26 March 2015 section 4(6) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2015
21B: Registration of name change
1: The Registrar-General must, subject to section 18 section 21A provided to
2: The Registrar-General must register a name change as follows:
a: for an eligible person whose birth has been registered or is required to be registered, include the new name in the person’s birth information; or
b: for an eligible person whose birth cannot be registered because of section 6
3: However, the Registrar-General must not register a name change if it is an abandonment of a surname assumed on marriage or entry into a civil union (not being the surname most recently included in the person’s birth information or name change information) and a reversion to the most recently included surname. Section 21B inserted 24 January 2009 section 13 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 21B(1) amended 16 December 2017 section 5 Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017
22: Registrar-General to give effect to decisions under
Care of Children Act 2004 Subject to section 18 section 44(3) section 46(1) Section 22 amended 1 July 2005 section 151 Care of Children Act 2004 Section 22 amended 1 July 2005 section 151 Care of Children Act 2004
4: Adoptions
23: Registrar-General to be notified of New Zealand adoptions
Forthwith after the making of an adoption order under the Adoption Act 1955
a: the names (if any) of the adopted person immediately before the making of the order:
b: the names conferred on the person by the order:
c: the names of the persons who were the person's parents immediately before the making of the order:
d: whether or not the adoptive parent or parents want the words adoptive parent adoptive parents
e: the date of the order:
f: the name of the court:
g: those matters required by the standard form section 11
h: any other matters prescribed. 1951 No 22 s 21(1) Section 23(g) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
24: Registration of New Zealand adoptions
1: On receiving—
a: notice under section 23 section 21 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1951
b: notice of the adoption under a former Adoption Act of— a person whose birth has been registered, the Registrar-General shall forthwith cause the information it contains to be included in the registration.
2: On receiving—
a: notice under section 23 section 21 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1951
b: notice of the adoption under a former Adoption Act of— a person whose birth has not been registered, the Registrar-General shall, if satisfied of the correctness or likely correctness of the information relating to the date and place of the person's birth, forthwith record the information it contains as if the person's birth is registered and the information is included in the registration.
3: The Registrar-General must include additional information described in subsection (5) in the birth information of an adopted person if an application—
a: is made under subsection (4)﻿(a); or
b: is made under subsection (4)﻿(b) and is accompanied by the adopted person's written consent if he or she is 16 or 17 years of age.
4: The application may be made by—
a: the adopted person if he or she is 18 years of age or older or (if younger than 18 years of age) has earlier married, entered into a civil union, or been in a de facto relationship; or
b: if the birth information relates to an adopted person who is younger than 18 years of age and has not earlier married, entered into a civil union, or been in a de facto relationship,—
i: the adoptive parents (if there are 2 adoptive parents and they are both alive); or
ii: the adoptive parent (if there is only 1 adoptive parent or 1 adoptive parent alive).
5: The additional information is—
a: notice of whether the words adoptive parent adoptive parents
b: other information relating to the birth, subject to section 83 1951 No 22 ss 21, 24 Section 24(3) substituted 24 January 2009 section 14 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 24(4) added 24 January 2009 section 14 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 24(5) added 24 January 2009 section 14 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
25: Registration of overseas adoptions
If the Registrar-General—
a: is satisfied that section 17(1) or section 11
b: has received any particulars the Registrar-General requires for the purpose, and is satisfied that they are or are likely to be correct,— the Registrar-General may direct that section 24 section 27 Adoption Act 1955 1951 No 22 s 21A Section 25(a) amended 1 January 1999 section 30 Adoption (Intercountry) Act 1997
26: Registrar-General may supply adoption information to registration authorities overseas
If satisfied that—
a: an authority constituted in a State outside New Zealand has the function of recording information relating to births within the State; and
b: a person who has been adopted in New Zealand was born in the State; and
c: the authority has so requested,— the Registrar-General may supply to the authority any information relating to the adoption.
27: Variation or discharge of adoption order
1: Subject to subsection (2), forthwith after the variation or discharge of an adoption order under the Adoption Act 1955
2: The Registrar-General may, if it seems expedient to do so, treat any order varying any adoption order as if it is a further adoption order; and in that case section 24 1951 No 22 s 23
5: Declarations of Family Court as to sex
27A: Definitions for sections 28 and 29
In sections 28 29 eligible adult
a: who is any of the following:
i: a person whose birth is registered:
ii: a person whose birth is registrable under this Act but is not yet registered:
iii: a person who is a New Zealand citizen or is entitled, under the Immigration Act 2009
b: who—
i: is 18 years of age or older; or
ii: is younger than 18 years of age but who is or has been in a marriage, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship eligible child
a: who is any of the following:
i: a person whose birth is registered:
ii: a person whose birth is registrable under this Act but is not yet registered:
iii: a person who is a New Zealand citizen or is entitled, under the Immigration Act 2009
b: who—
i: has not attained the age of 18 years; and
ii: has never been in a marriage, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship. Section 27A inserted 24 January 2009 section 15 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 27A eligible adult amended 29 November 2010 section 406(1) Immigration Act 2009 Section 27A eligible child amended 29 November 2010 section 406(1) Immigration Act 2009
28: Declarations of Family Court as to sex to be shown on birth certificates issued for adults
1: Subject to subsection (3), the Family Court an eligible adult (the applicant nominated sex
2: The court must cause a copy of the application to be served on—
a: the Registrar-General, if the applicant's birth is registered or is registrable under this Act but is not yet registered; and
b: any other person who, in the court's opinion, is interested in it or might be affected by the granting of the declaration.
3: The court shall issue the declaration if, and only if,—
a: it is satisfied either that the applicant's birth is registrable under this Act but is not yet registered, or that there is included in the record
i: information that the applicant is a person of the sex opposite to the nominated sex; or
ii: information that the applicant is a person of indeterminate sex; or
iii: no information at all as to the applicant's sex; and
b: it is satisfied that the applicant is not a person of the nominated sex, but—
i: has assumed and intends to maintain, or has always had and intends to maintain, the gender identity of a person of the nominated sex; and
ii: wishes the nominated sex to appear on birth certificates issued in respect of the applicant; and
c: either—
i: it is satisfied, on the basis of expert medical evidence, that the applicant—
A: has assumed (or has always had) the gender identity of a person of the nominated sex; and
B: has undergone such medical treatment as is usually regarded by medical experts as desirable to enable persons of the genetic and physical conformation of the applicant at birth to acquire a physical conformation that accords with the gender identity of a person of the nominated sex; and
C: will, as a result of the medical treatment undertaken, maintain a gender identity of a person of the nominated sex; or
ii: it is satisfied that the applicant's sexual assignment or reassignment as a person of the nominated sex has been recorded or recognised in accordance with the laws of a State for the time being recognised for the purposes of this section by the Minister by notice in the Gazette Section 28(1) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 28(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 16(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 28(2) substituted 24 January 2009 section 16(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 28(3)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 16(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
29: Declarations of Family Court as to appropriate gender identity for children
1: Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the Family Court an eligible child (the child
a: that it is in the child's best interests to be brought up as a person of a sex specified in the application (in subsection (3) referred to as the nominated sex
b: that any birth certificate issued in respect of the child should contain the information that the child is a person of the sex specified in the application.
2: The court must cause a copy of the application to be served on—
a: the Registrar-General, if the child's birth is registered or is registrable under this Act but is not yet registered; and
b: any other person who, in the court's opinion, is interested in it or might be affected by the granting of the declaration.
3: The court shall issue the declaration if, and only if,—
a: it is satisfied either that the child's birth is registrable under this Act but is not yet registered, or that there is included in the record
i: information that the child is a person of the sex opposite to the nominated sex; or
ii: information that the child is a person of indeterminate sex; or
iii: no information at all as to the child's sex; and
b: it is satisfied that the child is not a person of the nominated sex, but—
i: the guardian intends to bring the child up as a person of the nominated sex; and
ii: wishes the nominated sex to appear on birth certificates issued in respect of the applicant; and
c: it is satisfied, on the basis of expert medical evidence, that the child—
i: has already undergone; or
ii: if the court grants the declaration will undergo,— medical treatment reasonably necessary to enable the child to assume and maintain the gender identity of a person of the nominated sex; and
d: it is satisfied, on the basis of expert medical evidence, that the child's physical conformation and gonadal and genital development are such that it is more likely that the child will be able (after undergoing any of the medical treatment not yet undergone) to assume the gender identity of a person of the nominated sex than it is that the child will be able to assume the gender identity of a person of the opposite sex (with or without medical intervention).
4: The declaration shall specify (with as much particularity as is possible in all the circumstances) all medical treatment (if any) that the child has not yet undergone that in the court's opinion (reached in the light of the expert medical evidence) is reasonably necessary to enable the child's successful assumption and maintenance of the gender identity of a person of the nominated sex. Section 29(1) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 29(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 17(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 29(2) substituted 24 January 2009 section 17(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 29(3)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 17(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
30: Registrar-General may add information to registration of birth
1: Subject to subsection (2), where there is deposited with the Registrar-General a declaration issued under section 28 section 29
2: Section 30(2) repealed 19 August 2013 section 9 Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013
31: Registrar-General may delete information where procedures not completed
If satisfied that—
a: information that a person is a person of a particular sex has under section 30
b: the information was included after the deposit with the Registrar-General of a declaration issued under section 29
c: the declaration of the Family Court included with the documents specified medical treatment that was, in the court's opinion, reasonably necessary to enable the person's successful assumption and maintenance of the gender identity of a person of that sex; and
d: there has been produced to the Registrar-General expert medical evidence to the effect that the person has not undergone that medical treatment, or other medical treatment having the same effect,— the Registrar-General may delete from the information recorded the information that was included.
32: Other powers not affected
Nothing in sections 28 to 31
a: the power of the Registrar-General under section 84(2)
i: incorrect information relating to a person's sex; or
ii: information that a person is of indeterminate sex,— correct information relating to the person's sex; or
b: the power of the Registrar-General under section 84(3)
33: New information not to affect general law
Notwithstanding this Part, the sex of every person shall continue to be determined by reference to the general law of New Zealand.
6: Deaths
34: Deaths in New Zealand to be notified and registered
1: Every death in New Zealand must be notified and registered in accordance with this Part.
2: Subsection (1) does not apply to a death to which section 19(1) Section 34 substituted 1 July 2004 section 26 Visiting Forces Act 2004
35: Deaths outside New Zealand
Except as provided in sections 36 48(3) 50
36: Deaths on New Zealand aircraft or ships
Any person may notify the Registrar-General and the Registrar-General may cause to be registered, as if it had occurred in New Zealand, any death that occurred outside New Zealand on an aircraft registered in New Zealand under the Civil Aviation Act 1990 Maritime Transport Act 1994 Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971 1951 No 22 s 33A Section 36 amended 7 July 2010 section 9 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010
37: Medical certificates in relation to illness
Section 37 repealed 24 January 2009 section 18 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
38: Medical certificates in relation to accidents to elderly persons
Section 38 repealed 24 January 2009 section 18 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
39: Bodies to be disposed of within reasonable time
Section 39 repealed 24 January 2009 section 18 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
40: Transfer of charge of body
Section 40 repealed 24 January 2009 section 18 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
41: Medical certificate or coroner's order to be obtained before body disposed of
Section 41 repealed 24 January 2009 section 18 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
42: Registrar to be notified when body disposed of or removed
1: A person who disposes of a body (not being the body of a person whose death has already been notified under subsection (2)) shall forthwith notify a Registrar of the death of the person concerned.
2: Before removing a body—
a: from New Zealand for disposal outside New Zealand; or
b: for anatomical examination under the Human Tissue Act 2008 the person proposing to remove it shall notify a Registrar of the death of the person concerned. 1964 No 22 ss 29, 30, 32 Section 42(2)﻿(b) amended 1 November 2008 section 92 Human Tissue Act 2008
43: Notification of death where court gives leave to swear to death
Where, in any proceedings under the Administration Act 1969
a: the Registrar of the court shall forthwith notify the Registrar-General; and
b: the Registrar-General may authorise a Registrar to register the person's death; and
c: in that case, so far as this Act may be complied with in the circumstances, the Registrar shall do so. 1951 No 22 s 33B
44: Notification of death reported to coroner where body destroyed or irrecoverable
A coroner who has established—
a: that a person (being a person whose body is destroyed, impossible or impracticable to recover, or lost) has died; and
b: the person's identity,— shall notify a Registrar of the person's death. 1951 No 22 s 31A
45: Notification of death reported to coroner in other cases
1: The coroner to whom a death has been reported (or any coroner acting in that coroner's place) shall give a Registrar written notice of all particulars known to the coroner relating to the date, place, cause of the death, and identity of the person concerned,—
a: forthwith after issuing a coroner's authorisation
b: forthwith after acquiring them, in the case of particulars learned of later.
2: A coroner shall not include in any particulars given under subsection (1) any matter that tends to incriminate any person of any offence. 1951 No 22 s 31 Section 45(1)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
46: Other person may be authorised to notify
1: Where—
a: a person required by any of sections 42 to 45
b: every person required by any of sections 42 to 45 the other person may do so.
2: Except as provided in subsection (1), a person not required by any of sections 42 to 45
3: Notwithstanding subsection (1), where any person required by any of sections 42 to 45 1951 No 22 s 33
47: Manner of notification of death
1: A person notifying a Registrar of a death shall do so—
a: by completing and signing the standard
b: by sending the prescribed information relating to the death to the Registrar by an electronic means approved by the Registrar-General.
2: Subject to subsection (3), a person who completes and signs the standard
3: Where—
a: any person has notified a Registrar of a death by completing and signing the standard
b: it has not arrived or has been lost or destroyed,— a Registrar may authorise the person, or any other person required by any of sections 42 to 45 Section 47(1)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 47(2) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 47(3)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
48: Time within which death to be notified
1: A person required by section 42(1)
2: A coroner required by section 44 inquiry
3: If the Registrar-General is satisfied that—
a: any death in New Zealand has not previously been registered; or
b: the death of a person ordinarily resident in New Zealand occurred in a place outside New Zealand where—
i: there was no system for recording information relating to deaths; or
ii: the system for recording information relating to deaths did not apply to the person,— the death may be notified at any time; but (without limiting the generality of section 82 Section 48(2) amended 1 July 2007 section 146 Coroners Act 2006
49: Registrars to register deaths
1: Unless authorised by the Registrar-General to register deaths, a Registrar who is notified of a death under this Act shall, to the extent that the information given is information required by the standard
2: Subject to sections 48 82
a: a Registrar (being a Registrar authorised by the Registrar-General to register deaths) who—
i: is notified of a death under this Act; or
ii: has been sent death information under subsection (1),— shall, to the extent that the information given is information required by the standard
b: if sent death information under subsection (1), the Registrar-General shall, to the extent that it is information required by the standard
3: A Registrar who records information relating to a person's death (whether under subsection (1) of this section or under section 50
a: take all reasonable steps to find out if information relating to the person's birth is recorded on the system; and
b: if so, ensure that there is recorded, with but not as part of that information, the fact that the person is dead. 1951 No 22 s 7 Section 49(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 49(2)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 49(2)﻿(b) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
50: Register of deaths of certain service personnel
1: The Registrar-General shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that there is and continues to be recorded in respect of each person who, in the Registrar-General's opinion, died outside New Zealand while a member of, and on service with,—
a: a naval, military, or air force raised in New Zealand, or in—
i: any other State that was a Commonwealth country when the force was raised; or
ii: any State for whose international relations New Zealand or another State that was a Commonwealth country when the force was raised was then responsible; or
b: a United Nations activity within the meaning of sections 91 to 95 all the information (so far as it is known) described in subsection (2).
2: The information to be recorded is:
a: name and sex:
b: force or unit served in, and rank or level of position
c: last occupation and usual place of abode before departure from New Zealand:
d: birthplace and parentage:
e: date of birth, or age at date of death:
f: relationship status at time of death:
g: date and place of death:
h: cause of death:
i: place of disposal:
j: the source of information from which the particulars were obtained.
3: For the purpose of recording information under this section, the Registrar-General may accept—
a: in proof of the death of any person—
i: the fact that the High Court has granted probate or administration of the estate of the person; or
ii: the fact that the High Court has granted leave to swear to the death; or
iii: a certificate signed by an officer of the force concerned; or
iv: a certificate signed by an officer of a force (being a force of another country or of the United Nations) acting in co-operation with the force concerned; or
v: a certificate signed by any person approved for the purpose by the Minister of Defence or, as the case requires, the Minister of Police:
b: in proof of the death of any person, or of any other information required by subsection (2) to be recorded, any evidence the Registrar-General thinks sufficient. 1951 No 22 s 36 Section 50(1)﻿(b) amended 1 October 2008 section 130(1) Policing Act 2008 Section 50(2)﻿(b) amended 1 October 2008 section 130(1) Policing Act 2008 Section 50(2)﻿(f) substituted 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005
51: Registrar to be notified when disinterred body disposed of or removed
1: A person who disposes of a body that has been disinterred (otherwise than by returning it to the place where it was previously interred) shall, within 5 working days of doing so, notify a Registrar of where and how it was disposed of.
2: A person who removes—
a: from New Zealand for disposal outside New Zealand; or
b: for anatomical examination under the Human Tissue Act 2008 a body that has been disinterred shall notify a Registrar of the removal.
3: Subject to section 82
a: where the body has been disposed of; or
b: that the body has been removed from New Zealand for disposal outside New Zealand; or
c: that the body has been removed for anatomical examination under the Human Tissue Act 2008 Section 51(2)﻿(b) amended 1 November 2008 section 92 Human Tissue Act 2008 Section 51(3)﻿(c) amended 1 November 2008 section 92 Human Tissue Act 2008
52: Deposit with Registrar-General of death certificates issued outside New Zealand
1: Subject to this section, any person may, on payment of the prescribed fee and in the manner prescribed by regulations made under this Act, deposit with the Registrar-General a death certificate issued outside New Zealand in respect of the death outside New Zealand, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, of a New Zealand citizen or of a person ordinarily resident in New Zealand.
2: Where any person delivers to the Registrar-General, for deposit under subsection (1), a document that purports to be a death certificate to which that subsection applies, the Registrar-General shall, if satisfied that the document appears to be such a certificate, accept it for deposit and record the information contained in it.
3: Where a death certificate to which subsection (1) applies is not in the English language, the Registrar-General shall not accept it for deposit unless it is accompanied by a translation of that death certificate into the English language.
4: The Registrar-General shall not be responsible for the authenticity of any death certificate deposited under this section nor for the truth of any information contained in any such death certificate.
5: Where a death certificate is deposited under this section, the Registrar-General may, on payment of the prescribed fee, issue a written statement—
a: stating that that death certificate is, under this section, deposited with the Registrar-General; and
b: giving the information contained in that death certificate; but
c: stating that the Registrar-General is not responsible for the authenticity of that death certificate nor for the truth of any information contained in that death certificate.
6: Where a death certificate is deposited under this section with the Registrar-General at a time when the Registrar-General has access to a computer system on which information relating to births is recorded, the Registrar-General shall—
a: take all reasonable steps to find out if information relating to the person's birth is recorded on the system; and
b: if so, ensure that there is recorded, with but not as part of that information, the fact that a death certificate issued outside New Zealand has been deposited but the recording of that fact shall note that the death certificate has not been authenticated.
6A: Sections 74 75
7: Nothing in this section limits or affects the provisions of sections 48(3)﻿(b) 50 Section 52(6A) inserted 24 January 2009 section 19 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
7: Marriages
53: Marriages in New Zealand to be registered
Every marriage solemnised in New Zealand shall be registered in accordance with this Part.
54: Marriages outside New Zealand
Except as provided in sections 56 57 58 Section 54 amended 7 July 2010 section 10 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010
55: Marriage information to be sent to Registrar
1: A celebrant shall,—
a: forthwith after solemnising a marriage,—
i: enter on both forms provided under section 24
ii: ensure that both forms are signed by each spouse
iii: give one form to the parties; and
b: within 10 days of solemnising the marriage, give, send, or post the other form to a Registrar.
2: If a marriage has been solemnised in accordance with the marriage regulations of the religious Society of Friends (commonly called Quakers) or, as the case may require, in accordance with the rules and procedures of an exempt religious body,—
a: each spouse
i: enter on both forms provided under section 24
ii: ensure that both forms are signed by each spouse
iii: ensure that 1 form is given, sent, or posted to the registering officer of the Society of Friends or, as the case may require, the registering officer of the exempt religious body; and
b: as soon as is practicable after receiving a form under paragraph (a)﻿(iii) or subsection (4), the registering officer of the Society of Friends or, as the case may require, the registering officer of the exempt religious body must give, send, or post it to a Registrar.
2A: In subsection (2), exempt religious body section 32A(5)
3: A person who solemnises a service marriage (other than a service marriage solemnised in a Commonwealth country, particulars of which have been recorded in that country in accordance with its laws) shall,—
a: forthwith after the solemnisation,—
i: make and keep a record of information relating to the marriage on the form for the time being supplied with licences under section 24
ii: ensure that the record and 2 copies of it are signed by each spouse
iii: give one copy to the parties; and
b: as soon as is practicable after the solemnisation, send or post the other copy to the Registrar-General.
4: Where a form or copy record prepared under this section (or a document prepared under an equivalent provision of a former Act) has been lost or mislaid, the Registrar-General may direct the person or persons who prepared it to prepare and give, send, or post another; and in that case the person or persons shall do so. 1955 No 92 ss 11(2) 32 36 Section 55(1)﻿(a)﻿(ii) amended 19 August 2013 section 9 Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013 Section 55(2) substituted 1 January 2002 section 46 Human Rights Amendment Act 2001 Section 55(2)﻿(a) amended 19 August 2013 section 9 Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013 Section 55(2)﻿(a)﻿(ii) amended 19 August 2013 section 9 Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013 Section 55(2A) inserted 1 January 2002 section 46 Human Rights Amendment Act 2001 Section 55(3)﻿(a)﻿(ii) amended 19 August 2013 section 9 Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013
56: Registrars to register marriages
1: Unless authorised by the Registrar-General to register marriages,—
a: a Registrar who receives a form given, sent, or posted under section 55 standard
b: a Registrar who solemnises a marriage shall send the prescribed information relating to it to the Registrar-General or to a Registrar specified by the Registrar-General (as the Registrar-General for the time being directs).
2: Subject to section 82
a: a Registrar (being a Registrar authorised by the Registrar-General to register marriages) who receives a form given, sent, or posted under section 55 standard
b: a Registrar (being a Registrar authorised by the Registrar-General to register marriages) who solemnises a marriage shall register the prescribed information relating to it:
c: if sent marriage information under subsection (1), the Registrar-General shall, to the extent that it is information required by the standard 1955 No 92 s 36 Section 56(1)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 56(2)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 56(2)﻿(c) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
57: Registrar-General may register certain marriages
1: Subject to section 82
a: whether or not a form has been prepared in respect of the marriage under section 55 section 11(2) section 32 section 36
b: whether or not information to the same effect, or conflicting information, was contained in any such form, part, certificate, or copy.
2: Subject to section 82
a: has received from a party to a service marriage, or a descendant of the parties to a service marriage, or some other person on behalf of such a party or descendant,—
i: an original record of information relating to the marriage recorded under section 55(3)﻿(a)
ii: an original certificate of its solemnisation under section 45(1)
iii: some other information relating to the marriage; and
b: is satisfied that the record, certificate, or information is authentic; and
c: is satisfied that it is impracticable to produce a copy record or copy certificate (as the case requires),— the Registrar-General may record the information or any of it. 1955 No 92 ss 38(2) 46(2)
58: Overseas ceremony where New Zealand representative attends
The Registrar-General shall record all information contained in a duplicate copy of a certificate forwarded to the Registrar-General under section 43(1) 1955 No 92 s 43(2)
59: Dissolutions to be recorded
1: Upon the making of—
a: an order dissolving a marriage; or
b: an order declaring that a party to a marriage is presumed to be dead and that the marriage is dissolved; or
c: an order declaring a marriage to be void ab initio under the Family Proceedings Act 1980 the office of the Family Court
2: The Registrar-General may record, as part of the information recorded under this Act or a former Act relating to a marriage, any information contained in—
a: any order described in subsection (1); or
b: any equivalent order or decree made under a former divorce enactment (that is to say an Act repealed by the Family Proceedings Act 1980 1955 No 92 ss 53 55 Section 59(1) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 59(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
60: Convictions for bigamy, and for coerced marriage, to be recorded
1: This section applies if a person who is a party to a marriage is convicted of bigamy or coerced marriage because the marriage is a bigamous or coerced marriage.
2: The Registrar of the court in which the conviction was entered must immediately send to the Registrar-General a certificate of the conviction specifying—
a: the names of the parties to the bigamous or coerced marriage; and
b: the date and place of the bigamous or coerced marriage; and
c: the date of the conviction.
3: Subsection (4) applies if—
a: information relating to the bigamous or coerced marriage has been recorded under this Act or a former Act; and
b: information relating to the bigamous or coerced marriage is sent to the Registrar-General under subsection (2).
4: The Registrar-General must record, as part of the information relating to the bigamous or coerced marriage, the information sent under subsection (2). Section 60 replaced 3 December 2018 section 33 Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018
61: Celebrants and Registrars to be notified
Section 61 repealed 7 July 2010 section 11 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010
62: Recording new names in relation to marriages
1: Subsection (2) applies if, during the course of a marriage, a party to the marriage changes his or her name and the change is recorded in the person's birth information or name change information.
2: The person who has changed his or her name (or if the person has died, the other party to the marriage) may request the Registrar-General to include the new name or change of name in his or her marriage information.
3: A request under subsection (2) may be made when the verified statement, deed poll, or copy of the deed poll concerned is provided section 21A
4: The Registrar-General must include the new name or change of name as requested, if the request is accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any). Section 62 substituted 24 January 2009 section 20 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 62(3) amended 16 December 2017 section 6 Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017
7A: Civil unions
Part 7A inserted 26 April 2005 section 39 Civil Union Act 2004
62A: Civil unions under Civil Union Act 2004 to be registered
1: Every civil union entered into under the Civil Union Act 2004
2: No other type of civil union may be registered under this Act. Section 62A inserted 26 April 2005 section 39 Civil Union Act 2004
62B: Civil unions solemnised by celebrant
A celebrant who solemnises a civil union must,—
a: immediately after solemnising the civil union,—
i: enter on both information return forms provided under section 12
ii: ensure that both forms are signed by the parties to the civil union, the celebrant, and 2 witnesses to the solemnisation; and
iii: give one form to the parties; and
b: within 10 days of solemnising the civil union, forward the other form to a Registrar. Section 62B inserted 26 April 2005 section 39 Civil Union Act 2004
62C: Registrars to register civil unions
1: A Registrar who is authorised by the Registrar-General to register civil unions must,—
a: if he or she receives a form under section 62B standard
b: if he or she solemnises a civil union, register the prescribed information relating to it.
2: A Registrar who is not authorised by the Registrar-General to register civil unions must send to the Registrar-General, or to a Registrar specified by the Registrar-General (as the Registrar-General for the time being directs),—
a: any information contained on a form forwarded to the Registrar under section 62B standard
b: if the Registrar solemnises a civil union, the prescribed information relating to that civil union.
3: Subsections (1) and (2) may be overridden by section 82 Section 62C inserted 26 April 2005 section 39 Civil Union Act 2004 Section 62C(1)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 62C(2)﻿(a) amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
62D: Change to form of relationship to be recorded
If the Registrar-General or a Registrar receives information that the parties to a marriage or civil union have, under section 18
a: note on any information relating to the earlier marriage or civil union that is registered under this Act that the marriage or civil union has been changed, and note when and where the change was effected; and
b: note on the information relating to the later marriage or civil union that, on the date and at the place in which the solemnisation of the later marriage or civil union took place, the parties changed their earlier marriage or civil union into a marriage or civil union; and
c: ensure that a link is created between the registered information relating to the earlier marriage or civil union and the registered information relating to the later marriage or civil union. Section 62D inserted 26 April 2005 section 39 Civil Union Act 2004
62E: Dissolutions to be recorded
1: A Registrar of the Family Court Family Proceedings Act 1980
a: an order dissolving a civil union:
b: an order declaring that a party to a civil union is presumed dead and the civil union is dissolved:
c: an order declaring that a civil union is void ab initio
2: The Registrar-General must record the information contained in a certificate received under subsection (1) as part of the information recorded under this Act relating to the civil union. Section 62E inserted 26 April 2005 section 39 Civil Union Act 2004 Section 62E(1) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
62F: Convictions for bigamy, and for coerced civil union, to be recorded
1: This section applies if a person who is a party to a civil union is convicted of bigamy or coerced civil union because the civil union is a bigamous or coerced civil union.
2: The Registrar of the court in which the conviction was entered must immediately send to the Registrar-General a certificate of the conviction specifying—
a: the names of the parties to the bigamous or coerced civil union; and
b: the date and place of the bigamous or coerced civil union; and
c: the date of the conviction.
3: Subsection (4) applies if—
a: information relating to the bigamous or coerced civil union has been recorded under this Act or a former Act; and
b: information relating to the bigamous or coerced civil union is sent to the Registrar-General under subsection (2).
4: The Registrar-General must record, as part of the information relating to the bigamous or coerced civil union, the information sent under subsection (2). Section 62F replaced 3 December 2018 section 34 Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018
62G: Recording new names in relation to civil unions
1: Subsection (2) applies if, during the course of a civil union, a party to the civil union changes his or her name and the change is recorded in the person's birth information or name change information.
2: The person who has changed his or her name (or if the person has died, the other party to the civil union) may request the Registrar-General to include the new name or change of name in his or her civil union information.
3: A request under subsection (2) may be made when the verified statement is provided section 21A
4: The Registrar-General must include the new name or change of name as requested, if the request is accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any). Section 62G substituted 24 January 2009 section 21 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 62G(3) amended 16 December 2017 section 7 Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017
8: Certificates
63: Birth certificates for adopted persons
1: Except as provided in section 11(4)﻿(a)
a: by reference to the names most recently included in the registration of the person's birth under section 24 section 25
b: by reference to a name or names later recorded for the person under section 21B
2: Except as provided in the Adult Adoption Information Act 1985 section 24 section 25
a: subject to paragraph (b), shall contain the information that such a certificate would contain if the adoptive parents by whom the person was most recently adopted (otherwise than under an adoption order that has been discharged) were the person's biological mother and father, and the name or names recorded under that section had been recorded as information relating to the person's birth; and
b: shall state that those adoptive parents are or are not adoptive parents according to the information in that behalf most recently recorded under section 24
c: shall contain no other information. 1951 No 22 s 21(7) Section 63(1)﻿(b) substituted 24 January 2009 section 22 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
64: Birth certificates after sexual assignment or reassignment
1: A birth certificate provided in respect of a person in respect of whom it is for the time being recorded under section 30
a: shall, where new names have been included in the registration of the person's birth since it was recorded that the person was a person of that sex, contain the information that such a certificate would contain if the names first so included had been the person's names since birth; and
b: subject to paragraph (a), shall contain the information that such a certificate would contain if the person had always been a person of that sex; and
c: shall contain no other information.
2: Where the Registrar-General records under section 30
3: Any birth certificate issued in accordance with subsection (2)—
a: shall contain the information that such a certificate would contain if the nominated names had been the person's names since birth; and
b: shall, subject to that subsection, contain the information that such a certificate would contain if that person had always been a person of that sex; and
c: shall contain no other information.
4: Notwithstanding subsections (1) to (3), a birth certificate provided in respect of a person at any time while, under section 30
65: Request for new identity information for certain witnesses, etc
1: The following persons may make a written request to the Minister to create new identity information:
a: the Minister of Police, for the purpose of protecting a person who—
i: is, has been, or will be—
A: a witness in any proceeding; or
B: an undercover Police officer:
ii: needs protection because of his or her relationship to a person who is, has been, or will be a witness in any proceeding:
b: the Director-General of an intelligence and security agency, for the purpose of protecting the identity of a person who is, has been, or will be an employee.
2: The Minister may give a written direction to the Registrar-General to create new identity information for the person if,—
a: on receiving a request under subsection (1)﻿(a), the Minister is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice that the new identity information be created; or
b: on receiving a request under subsection (1)﻿(b), the Minister is satisfied, having regard to the matters set out in section 26(3)
i: the person will use the new identity information appropriately; and
ii: it is otherwise appropriate to grant the request.
3: New identity information is created by the Registrar-General by omitting, amending, or inserting—
a: birth information, death information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information (including, if necessary, the creation of other identities to support the person's new identity information); and
b: operational or administrative information as necessary, so that it supports the information described in paragraph (a).
4: The Registrar-General may omit, amend, or insert information in the birth information, death information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information of a person for whom new identity information has been created if the Registrar-General receives notification that the new identity is no longer needed or has been compromised, from—
a: the Commissioner of Police in relation to new identity information created as a result of a request under subsection (1)﻿(a); or
b: the Director-General of an intelligence and security agency in relation to new identity information created as the result of a request under subsection (1)﻿(b).
5: In this section,— employee section 22 undercover Police officer Section 65 substituted 24 January 2009 section 23 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 65(1)﻿(b) replaced 28 September 2017 section 247(1) Intelligence and Security Act 2017 Section 65(2) replaced 28 September 2017 section 247(2) Intelligence and Security Act 2017 Section 65(4)﻿(b) replaced 28 September 2017 section 247(3) Intelligence and Security Act 2017 Section 65(5) employee inserted 28 September 2017 section 247(5) Intelligence and Security Act 2017 Section 65(5) employee officer repealed 28 September 2017 section 247(4) Intelligence and Security Act 2017
66: Birth certificates where error in birth registration corrected
1: Subject to subsection (2), where an error in the registration of a person's birth has been corrected under this Act or a former Act, a birth certificate later provided in respect of the person—
a: shall contain the information that such a certificate would contain if the error had not been made; and
b: shall contain no other information.
2: Where—
a: under this Act or a former Act an error as to a person's sex has been corrected in the registration of the person's birth; and
b: since the error was corrected new names have been included in the registration,— a birth certificate later provided in respect of the person shall show the names first included after the error was corrected as if they were the names recorded when the person's birth was registered.
3: Notwithstanding subsection (1), where under this Act or a former Act an error in respect of the registration of a person's birth has been corrected, there may be provided in respect of that person a birth certificate that, by virtue of the serial number it bears, is capable of indicating that such an error has been corrected.
67: Birth certificates generally
1: Every birth certificate shall contain as much information (being information relating to the birth to which the certificate relates recorded under this Act or a former Act at the time the certificate is issued) as is then prescribed.
2: Subsection (1) is subject to sections 63 to 66
3: Notwithstanding sections 63(2)﻿(c) 64(1)﻿(c) 65(3) 66(1)﻿(b) still-born deceased
4:
5:
6: Section 67(3) amended 24 January 2009 section 24(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 67(4) repealed 24 January 2009 section 24(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 67(5) repealed 24 January 2009 section 24(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 67(6) repealed 24 January 2009 section 24(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
68: Surnames on certain birth certificates
In relation to births registered under a former Act before 1 January 1972, section 67
a: in the case of a birth in respect of which there was recorded the information that the parents of the person concerned were married to each other, as if there had been recorded the information that the person had the surname of the person's father; and
b: in every other case, as if there had been recorded the information that the person had the surname of the person's mother.
69: Death certificates
Every death certificate shall contain as much information (being information relating to the death to which the certificate relates recorded under this Act or a former Act at the time the certificate is issued) as is then prescribed.
70: Marriage certificates
Every marriage certificate shall contain as much information (being information relating to the marriage to which the certificate relates recorded under this Act or a former Act at the time the certificate is issued) as is then prescribed.
70A: Civil union certificates
Every civil union certificate must contain as much information (being information relating to the civil union to which the certificate relates that is recorded under this Act at the time the certificate is issued) as is then prescribed. Section 70A inserted 26 April 2005 section 46 Civil Union Act 2004
70B: Name change certificates
1: A name change certificate must contain as much information (relating to all name changes to which the certificate relates and that are recorded under this Act at the time the certificate is issued) as is then prescribed in regulations.
2: A name change certificate must not be issued for a person whose birth has been registered. Section 70B inserted 24 January 2009 section 25 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
71: Certificates to be prima facie evidence
A birth, death, marriage certificate, civil union, or name change 1951 No 22 s 42 Section 71 amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 71 amended 26 April 2005 section 46 Civil Union Act 2004
72: Fees for certificates
No birth certificate, death certificate, marriage, civil union, or name change Section 72 amended 24 January 2009 section 46 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 72 amended 26 April 2005 section 46 Civil Union Act 2004
9: Searches and disclosure of information
Part 9 heading substituted 24 January 2009 section 26 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
73: Definitions for sections 74 to 75G
In sections 74 to 75G access register section 75D(1) non-disclosure direction section 75A(2)﻿(b) personal representative
a: if the person has not attained the age of 18 years or has not earlier married or entered into a civil union or de facto relationship, a parent or guardian of the person; or
b: if the person has attained the age of 18 years or has earlier married or entered into a civil union or de facto relationship, a person who has been granted a power of attorney or has been given written authority by the person. Section 73 substituted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
74: Access to birth information, death information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information
1: Any person may request a Registrar to—
a: cause a search of information to be made; or
b: permit the inspection of a source document; or
c: provide a print-out or certificate of the information requested or a copy of a source document.
2: A Registrar may comply with a request under subsection (1) only if—
a: the request is in respect of a named person; and
b: the request is for a source document relating to the named person’s birth, death, marriage, civil union, or name change; or information relating to the registration of the named person’s birth, death, marriage, civil union, or name change; and
c: the request is made in a manner approved by the Registrar-General; and
d: the prescribed fee is paid; and
e: the requirement in subsection (3) is met; and
f: in the case of a request for a source document, the Registrar is satisfied that the person making the request is authorised under section 75
3: A person making the request and, if applicable, the person for whom the request is made must provide the Registrar with any means of identification that are reasonably necessary to allow the identity of the person or the identities of those persons to be readily ascertained.
4: This section is subject to sections 75B(2) 75G to 78H Section 74 substituted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
75: Persons authorised to access source documents
1: The following persons may inspect or obtain a copy of a source document:
a: the person who is the subject of the birth information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information contained in the source document or that person's personal representative:
b: a person who satisfies the Registrar-General that access is required for the maintenance of the accuracy of the registered information:
c: a person who satisfies the Registrar-General that access is required for a purpose consistent with the purpose of recording information under this Act that cannot be met by obtaining a certificate or print-out.
2: However, a person described in subsection (1)﻿(a) may not inspect or obtain a copy of information from a register, or an index to a register, that is regarded by the Registrar-General as a source document because it is maintained in documentary form and was created before 1 January 1998. Section 75 substituted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
75A: Subject of birth information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information may search access register and request non-disclosure direction
1: This section applies to a person who is the subject of birth information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information.
2: A person to whom this section applies, or his or her personal representative, may, at any time, request the Registrar-General—
a: to provide a copy of all entries made in the access register in relation to the person’s birth information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information:
b: on 1 or more prescribed grounds, to direct that the person’s birth information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information must not be disclosed to the public.
3: The Registrar-General may comply with a request under subsection (2) only if—
a: the request is made in a manner approved by the Registrar-General; and
b: the prescribed fee (if any) is paid; and
c: the requirement in subsection (4) is met.
4: A person making the request must provide the Registrar-General with any means of identification that are reasonably necessary to allow the identity of the person to be readily ascertained.
5: The Registrar-General must adopt appropriate procedures to ensure that, if the request is made by the person’s personal representative, the personal representative has the written authority of that person or is otherwise properly authorised by that person.
6: Subsection (2)﻿(a) is subject to section 75E
7: Subsection (2)﻿(b) is subject to sections 75F 75G Section 75A inserted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
75B: Effect and duration of non-disclosure direction
1: This section applies if the Registrar-General complies with a request under section 75A(2)﻿(b)
2: During the period in which the non-disclosure direction is in force, a Registrar—
a: may comply with a request under section 74
i: by the person who is the subject of that information; or
ii: by that person’s personal representative; and
b: must inform any other person who makes a request under that section for that information that—
i: the information exists; but
ii: the request cannot be complied with because a non-disclosure direction is in force.
3: A non-disclosure direction is in force from the date on which the Registrar-General gives the direction and continues in force until whichever is the earlier of—
a: the expiry of the prescribed period; or
b: the date on which the Registrar-General directs that the direction be withdrawn in accordance with a request under subsection (4).
4: A person who is the subject of the information to which a non-disclosure direction relates or that person’s personal representative may, at any time, request the Registrar-General—
a: to withdraw the direction; or
b: on 1 or more prescribed grounds, to reinstate the direction after it has been withdrawn or after the prescribed period referred to in subsection (3)﻿(a) has expired.
5: Section 75A(3) to (5)
6: Subsection (2) is subject to sections 75F 75G Section 75B inserted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
75C: Registrar may provide limited verification of registered information that becomes publicly available while non-disclosure direction in force
1: This section applies if a person who is the subject of birth information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information makes any part of the information, or any information corresponding to that part of the information, publicly available while a non-disclosure direction in respect of that information is in force.
2: Any person may request a Registrar to verify whether the information that has become publicly available matches, or is consistent with, the relevant birth information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information.
3: A Registrar may comply with a request under subsection (2) only if—
a: the request is made in a manner approved by the Registrar-General; and
b: the request is accompanied by a copy of the information that has become publicly available or any other details that are sufficient, in the Registrar’s opinion, to confirm that the information is publicly available; and
c: the prescribed fee (if any) is paid; and
d: the requirement in subsection (4) is met.
4: A person making the request and, if applicable, the person for whom the request is made must provide the Registrar with any means of identification that are reasonably necessary to allow the identity of the person or the identities of those persons to be readily ascertained. Section 75C inserted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
75D: Registrar-General must keep access register
1: The Registrar-General must ensure that an access register is kept for the purposes of this Act.
2: The access register must—
a: record, as a separate entry, every request under section 74
b: set out the following information under each entry:
i: the name of the person who made the request; and
ii: the date on which the request was made; and
iii: whether or not the Registrar complied with the request.
3: Subsection (2)﻿(a) is subject to sections 75F(2) 75G Section 75D inserted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
75E: Public sector agencies may search access register
1: Despite section 75A(2)﻿(a) section 7(1)
2: The Registrar-General must comply with a request under subsection (1) as soon as practicable after it is made.
3: To avoid doubt, section 75A(3) and (4) Section 75E inserted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 75E(1) amended 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020
75F: Searches for certain authorised purposes
1: Sections 75A(2)﻿(b) 75B(2) section 74
a: a person who requires the information for use in proceedings in a court or tribunal:
b: an adopted person who is searching for information about his or her birth family:
c: an executor, administrator, or trustee of an estate or trust who requires the information for the administration of the estate or trust:
d: a person who satisfies the Registrar-General that access to the information or a source document is required for the maintenance of the accuracy of the registered information:
e: a person who satisfies the Registrar-General that access to a source document is required for a purpose consistent with the purpose of recording information under the Act that cannot be met by obtaining a certificate or print-out.
2: Sections 75A(2)﻿(b) 75B(2) 75D(2) section 74
a: a public sector agency that requires the information to avoid prejudice to the maintenance of the law (including the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, and punishment of offences):
b: a public sector agency to whom disclosure of the information is contemplated or authorised by any other enactment:
c: an intelligence and security agency, if it requires the information for the performance of its functions:
d: the Police so they can notify next of kin of a person’s death. Section 75F inserted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 75F(2)﻿(c) replaced 28 September 2017 section 248 Intelligence and Security Act 2017
75G: Searches for purposes of gathering statistics, or for health, historical, or demographic research
1: Despite sections 74 75A(2)﻿(b) 75B(2) 75D(2)
a: the gathering of statistics or historical or demographic research, and—
i: information relating to particular individuals is not sought and will not be retained; or
ii: if information relating to particular individuals is sought, the information—
A: relates to persons who are dead or were born at least 120 years ago; and
B: the Registrar-General is satisfied that, in causing the search to be made, or providing the information, the public benefit outweighs the effect on individual privacy; or
b: health research, and—
i: information relating to particular individuals is not sought and will not be retained; or
ii: if information relating to particular individuals is sought, the information—
A: relates to persons who are dead or were born at least 120 years ago; or
B: the Registrar-General is satisfied that, in causing the search to be made, or providing the information, the public benefit outweighs the effect on individual privacy.
2: For the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(a)﻿(ii)﻿(B) and (b)﻿(ii)﻿(B), the Registrar-General must take into account the following matters:
a: the number of individuals whose privacy will be affected:
b: the degree to which each individual's privacy will be affected:
c: whether an ethics review committee or a similar body has considered and approved the research and, if so, the persons making up the committee or body and the type of work it undertakes:
d: how the agency, body, or person undertaking the research proposes to hold, use, and, if relevant, dispose of the information obtained.
3: The Registrar-General may impose any conditions on the holding, use, publication, and disposal of information provided under this section that the Registrar-General considers appropriate to prevent or minimise an effect on individual privacy.
4: Before exercising any powers under this section for the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(a)﻿(ii)﻿(B) and (b)﻿(ii)﻿(B), the Registrar-General must—
a: consult with, and invite comments from, the Privacy Commissioner; and
b: take those comments into account. Section 75G inserted 24 January 2009 section 27 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
76: Restrictions on searches relating to adopted persons
1: This section applies to information if—
a: it relates to an adopted person; and
b: it was recorded under section 24 section 25
2: No person other than the Registrar-General shall permit a person to inspect any document containing information to which this section applies, or provide any person with a print-out or copy of any such document or a print-out of any such information.
3: The Registrar-General may permit a person to inspect any document containing information to which this section applies, or provide any person with a print-out or copy of any such document or a print-out of any such information, if satisfied—
a: that—
i: the person wishes to inspect the document or have the print-out or copy for a purpose in connection with the administration of an estate or trust; and
ii: the person is executor, administrator, or trustee of the estate or trust; and
iii: the information is material for the purpose; or
b: that—
i: the person wishes to inspect the document or have the print-out or copy for the purpose of investigating forbidden degrees of relationship under the Marriage Act 1955 or the Civil Union Act 2004
ii: the person is a Registrar or celebrant; or
c: that section 11(4)﻿(a) section 11(4)﻿(a)
d: that the adopted person concerned, the adoptive parents, and such of the adopted person's natural parents as had information relating to them recorded under this Act or a former Act as part of the information relating to the adopted person's birth, are all dead; or
e: that 120 years has passed since the birth of the adopted person concerned.
4: Except as provided in subsection (3), the Registrar-General shall not permit a person to inspect any document containing information to which this section applies, or provide any person with a print-out or copy of any such document or a print-out of any such information, except on the order of the Family Court, the District Court
a: for the purposes of a prosecution for making a false statement; or
b: in the event of any question of the validity or effect of any interim order or adoption order; or
c: on any other special ground. 1951 No 22 s 21(8), (9) Section 76(3)﻿(b)﻿(i) amended 26 April 2005 section 46 Civil Union Act 2004 Section 76(3)﻿(c) amended 7 July 2010 section 12 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2010 Section 76(4) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
77: Restrictions on searches where error relating to person's sex has been corrected or sexual assignment or reassignment has been registered
1: In this section, birth information
2: This subsection applies to information if—
a: it is birth information relating to a person's sex; and it has later been corrected under section 84
b: it is information relating to the correction under section 84
3: This subsection applies to information if—
a: it is birth information specifying names for a person; and—
i: after it was recorded the birth information relating to the person's sex has been corrected under section 84
ii: after the correction was made, new names adopted by the person have been recorded as birth information; or
b: it is information relating to the recording, after the correction under section 84
4: This subsection applies to information if—
a: it is birth information that a person is a person of indeterminate sex; and after it was recorded there has been recorded under Part 5
b: it is information to the effect that a person's birth information at one time did not include any information relating to the person's sex; and there has since been recorded under Part 5
c: it is birth information that a person is a person of a particular sex; and after it was recorded there has been recorded under Part 5
d: it is information relating to the recording under Part 5
e: it is birth information specifying names for a person; and—
i: after it was recorded there has been recorded under Part 5
ii: after the sex information was recorded, names other than those specified in the birth information have, in accordance with this Act, been recorded as birth information; or
f: it is information relating to the recording, for the first time after the recording under Part 5
5: No person other than the Registrar-General shall permit a person to inspect any document containing information to which subsection (2) or subsection (3) or subsection (4) applies, or provide any person with a print-out or copy of any such document or a print-out of any such information.
6: The Registrar-General may permit a person to inspect any document containing information to which subsection (4) applies, or provide any person with a print-out or copy of any such document or a print-out of any such information, if satisfied—
a: that the person is the person to whom the information relates; or
b: that—
i: the person wishes to inspect the document or have the print-out or copy for a purpose in connection with the administration of an estate or trust; and
ii: the person is executor, administrator, or trustee of the estate or trust; and
iii: the information is material for the purpose; or
c: that—
i: the person wishes to inspect the document or have the print-out or copy for the purpose of investigating whether or not the parties to a proposed marriage are a man and a woman; and
ii: the person is a celebrant or Registrar; and
iii: the information is material for the purpose.
7: The Registrar-General may permit a person to inspect any document containing information to which subsection (3) or subsection (4) applies, or provide any person with a print-out or copy of any such document or a print-out of any such information, if satisfied that—
a: the person who wishes to inspect the document or have the print-out or copy is the person to whom the information relates; or
b: 120 years has passed since the birth of the person to whom the information relates.
8: Except as provided in subsections (6) and (7), the Registrar-General shall not permit a person to inspect any document containing information to which subsection (2) or subsection (3) or subsection (4) applies, or provide any person with a print-out or copy of any such document or a print-out of any such information, except on the order of the Family Court, the District Court
a: for the purposes of a prosecution for making a false statement; or
b: in the event of any question as to the validity of a marriage; or
c: in the event of any question as to the validity of any information recorded under section 30(1)
d: on any other special ground.
9: Notwithstanding anything in this Act, the Registrar-General may notify any government agency that has an interest in ensuring that people should not have more than 1 identity of—
a: the fact that any person has had the person's sexual assignment or reassignment registered under section 30(1) section 84
b: the person's names at the time:
c: any new names later adopted by the person. Section 77(8) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 77(8)﻿(c) amended 28 July 1997 section 5 Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Amendment Act 1997 Section 77(9)﻿(a) amended 28 July 1997 section 5 Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Amendment Act 1997
78: Restrictions on searches relating to new names of certain witnesses, etc
1: While section 65
2: The Registrar-General may permit a person (in this subsection referred to as the applicant
a: is the applicant; or
b: has given the Registrar-General written consent to the applicant's inspecting it; or
c: is dead; or
d: was born more than 120 years ago.
3: Except as provided in subsection (2), the Registrar-General shall not permit any person to inspect, or obtain a copy of or print-out of any information contained in, the document, except on the order of the Family Court, the District Court
a: for the purposes of a prosecution for making a false statement; or
b: in the event of any question as to the validity of a marriage or civil union
c: on any other special ground.
4: The Registrar-General may notify a government agency that has an interest in ensuring that people do not have more than 1 identity of the fact that section 65
5: However, the Registrar-General may do so only if he or she has the written approval of—
a: the Commissioner of Police, in the case of a new identity created as the result of a request made under section 65(1)﻿(a)
b: the Director-General of an intelligence and security agency, if the new identity was created as the result of a request made under section 65(1)﻿(b)
6: Subsections (7) and (8) apply if a person requests, under this Act, birth information, death information, marriage information, civil union information, or name change information of a person for whom a new identity has been created.
7: The Registrar-General must, as soon as practicable,—
a: cause the person who has the new identity to be notified that the information has been requested, if the Registrar-General has the person's latest contact details; and
b: also notify—
i: the Commissioner of Police, if the new identity was created as a result of a request under section 65(1)﻿(a)
ii: the Director-General of an intelligence and security agency, if the new identity was created as the result of a request made under section 65(1)﻿(b)
8: The Registrar-General may also inform the person who has the new identity and the Commissioner of Police or the Director-General of the relevant intelligence and security agency
a: the date and time of the request:
b: the name, address, and contact details (if known) of the person who made the request:
c: the information requested:
d: the information (if any) provided to the person as a result of the request. Section 78(3) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 78(3)﻿(b) amended 26 April 2005 section 46 Civil Union Act 2004 Section 78(4) substituted 24 January 2009 section 28 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78(5) added 24 January 2009 section 28 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78(5)﻿(b) replaced 28 September 2017 section 249(1) Intelligence and Security Act 2017 Section 78(6) added 24 January 2009 section 28 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78(7) added 24 January 2009 section 28 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78(7)﻿(b)﻿(ii) replaced 28 September 2017 section 249(2) Intelligence and Security Act 2017 Section 78(8) added 24 January 2009 section 28 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78(8) amended 28 September 2017 section 249(3) Intelligence and Security Act 2017
78A: Disclosure of birth information, death information,
marriage information, civil union information, and name change
1: The purpose of this section is to authorise the disclosure of birth information, death information, marriage information, civil union information, and name change
2: The Registrar-General and the chief executive of an agency first column of Schedule 1A the agency
3: An agreement entered into under subsection (2) may be varied by the Registrar-General and the chief executive.
4: The Registrar-General may disclose birth information, death information, marriage information, civil union information, and name change under this section Schedule 1A
4A: Sections 74 75A(2)﻿(b) 75B(2) 75D(2)
4B: On or after 1 December 2020
a: an information matching agreement entered into under Part 10 of the Privacy Act 1993 and continued by clause 11
b: an information matching agreement entered into under subpart 4
c: an approved information sharing agreement entered into under subpart 1
5:
6: In this section, a reference to the chief executive of an agency Section 78A inserted 27 September 2001 section 3 Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Amendment Act 2001 Section 78A heading amended 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020 Section 78A heading amended 24 January 2009 section 29(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78A heading amended 26 April 2005 section 46 Civil Union Act 2004 Section 78A(1) amended 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020 Section 78A(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 29(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78A(1) amended 26 April 2005 section 46 Civil Union Act 2004 Section 78A(2) amended 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020 Section 78A(4) amended 27 February 2013 section 4 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2013 Section 78A(4) amended 24 January 2009 section 29(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78A(4) amended 26 April 2005 section 46 Civil Union Act 2004 Section 78A(4A) inserted 24 January 2009 section 29(4) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78A(4B) inserted 1 December 2020 section 190 Privacy Act 2020 Section 78A(5) repealed 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020 Section 78A(6) added 24 January 2009 section 29(5) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78A(6) amended 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020
78AA: Disclosure of birth information, death information, marriage information, civil union information, and name change information under approved information sharing agreement
1: The Registrar-General may share the following personal information about an identifiable individual under an approved information sharing agreement:
a: birth information:
b: death information:
c: marriage information:
d: civil union information:
e: name change information.
2: This section does not limit section 74
3: This section and section 78A
4: Subsection (1) applies whether or not a non-disclosure direction is in force in respect of any or all of the personal information about an identifiable individual referred to in that subsection.
5: Section 78AA inserted 27 February 2013 section 5 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2013 Section 78AA(5) repealed 22 August 2017 section 12 Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Act 2017
78AB: Disclosure of birth information, death information, marriage information, civil union information, and name change information for law enforcement purposes
1: This section applies if a specified agency has reason to suspect that a particular individual—
a: is, or is liable to be, detained under an enactment:
b: is, or is liable to be, arrested under a warrant issued by a court or any Registrar:
c: is contravening, or is about to contravene, an enactment or a court order:
d: is liable to be prosecuted for an offence punishable by imprisonment:
e: is, or is liable to be, detained or arrested in respect of a traffic offence:
f: is endangering, or is threatening to endanger, the life, health, or safety of a person or group of persons:
g: is injured or dead.
2: If this section applies, the Registrar-General may, despite the existence or absence of an approved information sharing agreement, share the following personal information about the particular individual with the specified agency:
a: birth information:
b: death information:
c: marriage information:
d: civil union information:
e: name change information.
3: This section does not limit section 74 78A 78AA
4: Subsection (1) applies whether or not a non-disclosure direction is in force in respect of any or all of the personal information about an identifiable individual referred to in that subsection.
5: For the purposes of this section, specified agency
a: the Department of Corrections:
b: the Department of Internal Affairs:
c: the part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment that administers the Immigration Act 2009
d: the Ministry of Justice:
e: the Ministry of Transport:
f: the New Zealand Customs Service:
g: the New Zealand Police:
h: the New Zealand Transport Agency. 1993 No 28 s 97 1996 No 27 s 32C(1) 2009 No 51 s 4 Section 78AB inserted 22 August 2017 section 13 Enhancing Identity Verification and Border Processes Legislation Act 2017
78B: Information matching to trace unregistered births
Section 78B repealed 1 December 2020 section 190 Privacy Act 2020
78C: Disclosure of statistical information
The Registrar-General may publish or otherwise disclose statistical information obtained from registered information if he or she is of the opinion that the statistical information may be of interest to the public and is not readily available elsewhere. Section 78C inserted 24 January 2009 section 30 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
78D: Registrar-General may share name change information and death information with foreign registration authorities
1: The Registrar-General may supply to a foreign registration authority name change information or death information, or both, relating to a person whose birth is registered in the State in which the foreign registration authority has jurisdiction.
2: Subsection (1) is subject to section 78E
3: Without limiting his or her discretion under subsection (1), the Registrar-General may decide not to supply name change information under that subsection if the person who is the subject of the name change information satisfies the Registrar-General that the name change information should not be supplied because of exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian or other nature relating to that person.
4: The Registrar-General may obtain, hold, and use information from a foreign registration authority relating to a name change or death of a person in the State in which the foreign registration authority has jurisdiction—
a: whose birth is registered; or
b: who is a New Zealand citizen or is entitled, under the Immigration Act 2009 Section 78D inserted 24 January 2009 section 30 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 78D(4)﻿(b) amended 29 November 2010 section 406(1) Immigration Act 2009
78E: Supply of information to foreign registration authorities must be in accordance with written agreement
1: The supply of information under section 78D
2: An agreement must state—
a: the purpose of the agreement; and
b: the information that can be supplied; and
c: the method by which, and the form in which, the information may be supplied; and
d: how the foreign registration authority will use the information (including the limits on any further disclosure by the foreign registration authority); and
e: the fees (if any) payable for the supply of the information.
3: An agreement may be varied by the Registrar-General and the foreign registration authority in writing.
4: The Registrar-General must consult with the Privacy Commissioner before entering into or varying an agreement.
5: The Privacy Commissioner may require the Registrar-General to review an agreement, and report on the outcome of the review to the Privacy Commissioner, at intervals not shorter than 12 months. Section 78E inserted 24 January 2009 section 30 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
78F: Disclosure of death information to non-government organisations for certain purposes
1: The Registrar-General may disclose death information to an appropriate non-government organisation, private sector agency, or person (the other party
2: The Registrar-General may not disclose information that is protected by any of sections 63 to 66
3: No disclosure may be made unless—
a: there is an agreement between the Registrar-General and the other party that states—
i: the purpose of the agreement; and
ii: the information that can be disclosed; and
iii: the method and form of the disclosure; and
iv: how the other party will use the information (including the limits on any further disclosure by the other party); and
v: the fees (if any) payable for disclosure of the information; and
b: the disclosure is in accordance with the agreement.
4: An agreement may be varied by the Registrar-General and the other party in writing.
5: The Registrar-General and the other party must consult with the Privacy Commissioner before entering into or varying an agreement.
6: The Privacy Commissioner may require the Registrar-General and the other party to review the agreement, and report on the outcome of the review to the Privacy Commissioner, at intervals not shorter than 12 months.
7: The other party that obtains information under this section must not intentionally do, or permit another person to do, any of the following:
a: change or manipulate the information into a form different from the form in which it was provided:
b: place the information on the Internet or otherwise make it available for public search:
c: use or disclose the information for a purpose other than the purpose specified in the agreement.
8: Subsection (7)﻿(b) does not prevent the other party that obtains information under this section from placing the information on an Internet site that is not generally available to members of the public if the Registrar-General so agrees. Section 78F inserted 24 January 2009 section 30 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
78G: Definition for sections 78H and 78I
In sections 78H 78I historical information
a: a birth (excluding still-births) that occurred 100 years ago or more:
b: a still-birth that occurred 50 years ago or more:
c: a marriage or civil union that occurred 80 years ago or more:
d: a name change for a person whose birth is registered outside New Zealand and who was born 100 years ago or more:
e: a death that occurred 50 years ago or more, or if 80 years or more has passed since the birth of the deceased person. Section 78G inserted 24 January 2009 section 30 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
78H: Registrar-General may make certain historical information available
1: The Registrar-General may make historical information available for search by the public (including on an Internet site) on payment of the prescribed fee (if any).
2: The Internet site must be maintained by, or on behalf of, the Registrar-General.
3: The historical information that the Registrar-General may make available on the Internet site is,—
a: for births (excluding still-births), any or all of the following information that is registered:
i: the name, all registered name changes, and sex of the person born:
ii: the date of the birth:
iii: the place of the birth or the place where it was registered, or both:
iv: the mother's name:
v: the father's name:
vi: the registration number; and
b: for still-births, any or all of the following information that is registered:
i: the name and sex of the person who was still-born:
ii: the date of the still-birth:
iii: the place of the still-birth or the place where it was registered, or both:
iv: the mother's name:
v: the father's name:
vi: the registration number; and
c: for marriages and civil unions, any or all of the following information that is registered:
i: the names of the people who married or entered into a civil union:
ii: the date of the marriage or civil union:
iii: the place of the marriage or civil union or the place where it was registered, or both:
iv: the registration number; and
d: for name changes, any or all of the following information that is registered:
i: the person's full name before the first registered name change:
ii: in relation to each time the person has registered a name change, the person's new full name:
iii: the date of birth of the person:
iv: the place of birth of the person:
v: the registration number; and
e: for deaths, any or all of the following information that is registered:
i: the name at birth, name at death, and sex of the person who died:
ii: the date of the death:
iii: the place where the person died or the place where it was registered, or both:
iv: the date of birth of the person who died or the age of the person on death, or both:
v: the registration number.
4: Subsection (3) is subject to sections 75A(2)﻿(b) 75B(2)
5: If this section applies, sections 74(2)﻿(e) and (3) 75D(2) Section 78H inserted 24 January 2009 section 30 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
78I: Index information must not be made available on Internet
1: Index information must not be made available intentionally on an Internet site.
2: Index information that is made available on an Internet site before the commencement of this section must be removed from the site within 14 days after the commencement of this section.
3: However, index information may be made available on an Internet site (or remain available if it is available on the site before the commencement of this section) if—
a: the information is in a form that could not reasonably be expected to identify any particular person; or
b: the person who makes the information available—
i: is the subject of the information; or
ii: has been granted a power of attorney or given written authority to make the information available by the person who is the subject of the information; or
c: the information is historical information.
4: Index information may be made available on an Internet site under subsection (3)﻿(b)﻿(ii) only to the extent that the power of attorney or written authority does not prohibit making available the information on the Internet.
5: In this section,— index information section 74(2) Internet site Section 78I inserted 24 January 2009 section 30 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
78J: Review of operation of sections 74 to 75G, 78F, and 78H
1: As soon as practicable after the expiry of the period of 5 years beginning on the commencement of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
a: review the operation of sections 74 to 75G 78F 78H
b: prepare a report of the review that includes recommendations on whether any amendments to those sections are necessary or desirable; and
c: present a copy of the report to the House of Representatives.
2: In preparing the report, the Minister must consult with interested parties (including the Privacy Commissioner and the Chief Archivist). Section 78J inserted 24 January 2009 section 30 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
78K: Disclosure of certain information for purposes of Identity Information Confirmation Act 2012
1: Any information specified in subsection (2) in relation to an individual about whom an identity information check was carried out under section 9
2: The information referred to in subsection (1) is as follows:
a: that the individual is dead:
b: that name change information in relation to the individual exists. Section 78K inserted 19 December 2012 section 22 Identity Information Confirmation Act 2012
10: Registrar-General and Registrars
79: Registrar-General
1: There shall from time to time be appointed under the Public Service Act 2020
2: The Registrar-General is charged with the general administration of this Act.
3: Subject to this Act, every Registrar shall exercise and perform powers and duties under this Act in accordance with the directions for the time being (if any) of the Registrar-General. 1951 No 22 s 3 Section 79(1) amended 7 August 2020 section 135 Public Service Act 2020
80: Deputy Registrar-General
1: There shall from time to time be appointed under the Public Service Act 2020
2: Subject to the control of the Registrar-General, a Deputy Registrar-General has and may exercise and perform any of the powers, functions, and duties of the Registrar-General.
3: On the occurrence from any cause of a vacancy in the office of Registrar-General (whether by reason of death or resignation or otherwise) or in the absence (from whatever cause arising) of the Registrar-General, and for so long as the vacancy or absence continues,—
a: the Deputy Registrar-General if there is only 1; or
b: a Deputy Registrar-General authorised in writing in that behalf by the chief executive of the department of State that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act has and may exercise and perform all the powers, functions, and duties of the Registrar-General.
4: The fact that a Deputy Registrar-General exercises or performs any power, function, or duty of the Registrar-General is conclusive evidence of the Deputy Registrar-General's authority to do so; and no authority given under subsection (3)﻿(b), and no act done by a Deputy Registrar-General under any such authority or under subsection (2) or subsection (3), shall in any proceedings be questioned on the ground that the occasion for the giving of the authority had not arisen or had ceased, or that the act was contrary to a direction of the Registrar-General. 1951 No 22 s 3 Section 80(1) amended 7 August 2020 section 135 Public Service Act 2020 Section 80(3)﻿(b) amended 1 October 1995 section 10(3) Department of Justice (Restructuring) Act 1995
81: Registrars
1: There shall from time to time be appointed such number of persons to be Registrars as is necessary for the purposes of this Act or any other Act under which Registrars exercise functions
2: Appointments under subsection (1) shall,—
a: in the case of persons who on their appointment will become employed in the public service, be in accordance with the Public Service Act 2020
b: in every other case, be in writing under the hand of the Registrar-General, specifying either—
i: the name of the person appointed; or
ii: an office whose holder for the time being is to hold the appointment; and
c: specify whether the person appointed, or the office holder, is to exercise and perform all or some of the powers, functions, and duties of a Registrar under this Act or any other Act under which Registrars exercise functions 1951 No 22 s 4(1), (2) 1982 No 61 s 2(1) Section 81(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 31(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 81(2)﻿(a) amended 7 August 2020 section 135 Public Service Act 2020 Section 81(2)﻿(c) amended 24 January 2009 section 31(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
11: Powers of inquiry and correction and updating of records
Part 11 heading substituted 24 January 2009 section 32 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
82: Registrar-General's powers of inquiry
in relation to registrable events
1: The Registrar-General may, if he or she considers it reasonably necessary for the purposes of this Act, make inquiries—
a: to determine whether a registrable event has occurred; or
b: to collect details of a registrable event; or
c: to ensure that there is a correct record of a registrable event.
2: The Registrar-General may also require a person who provides information under this section to make a statutory declaration on a form provided by the Registrar-General for the purpose or to provide other evidence in support of the information provided.
3: The Registrar-General may delegate his or her powers under this section to 1 or more Registrars.
4: In this section, registrable event Section 82 substituted 24 January 2009 section 33 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 82 heading amended 16 December 2017 section 8 Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017
82A: Registrar-General’s powers of inquiry in relation to information provided or verified electronically
1: The Registrar-General may, if he or she considers it reasonably necessary for the purposes of this Act, the Marriage Act 1955 Civil Union Act 2004
a: any information verified electronically under section 21A section 11 Schedule 1 section 9 10 23 32B 42
b: an application, statement, or certificate approved electronically under clause 1 section 9 10 32B
2: The Registrar-General may also require a person who verifies a statement electronically under section 21A(2)﻿(c)﻿(i)
3: The Registrar-General may also require a person who verifies information electronically under clause 1 section 9 10 32B
4: The Registrar-General may also require a person who verifies information electronically under section 11 section 23 42
5: The Registrar-General may delegate his or her powers under this section to 1 or more Registrars. Section 82A inserted 16 December 2017 section 9 Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017
83: Registrars must decline to record certain information
1: If a Registrar is satisfied (on reasonable grounds) after making any inquiries under section 82
2: This section overrides anything in this Act to the contrary and is in addition to the powers of the Registrar-General under sections 24(2), 24(3)﻿(b) 25(b) 31 Section 83 substituted 24 January 2009 section 33 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 83(2) amended 19 August 2013 section 9 Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013
84: Correction of errors
1: If a Registrar is satisfied, after making any inquiries under section 82
2: If the Registrar-General is satisfied, after making any inquiries under section 82
a: recorded under this Act or a former Act is incorrect, he or she must cause it to be removed and (if the Registrar-General is satisfied that relevant information in the Registrar-General's possession is correct) cause the correct information to be substituted; or
b: in the Registrar-General's possession and not recorded under this Act or a former Act is correct and should have been recorded, he or she must cause the information to be recorded. Section 84 substituted 24 January 2009 section 33 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
84A: Amendments to birth registrations to include details of parents under Part 2 of Status of Children Act 1969
1: The Registrar-General must amend a person's birth information in accordance with subsection (2) if the Registrar-General is satisfied, after making any inquiries under section 82
a: the person was conceived as a result of an AHR procedure to which Part 2
b: the person's birth information does not include information about a parent of the person as determined under that Act, or includes information about a person purporting to be a parent but who is not a parent in terms of that Act.
2: The Registrar-General must amend the birth information by adding or deleting (or both) information described in subsection (1)﻿(b).
3: In this section, AHR procedure section 15 Section 84A inserted 24 January 2009 section 33 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
85: Family Court may consider proposed corrections in cases of difficulty or dispute
1: The Registrar-General, if uncertain as to any matter in respect of which the Registrar-General is required to be satisfied for the purposes of section 84 or 84A the office of the Family Court
2: Any person who wishes the Registrar-General to act under section 84 or 84A the office of the Family Court
3: The Family Court at the office where section 84 or 84A
a: giving every person whom the court considers to have an interest in the matter an opportunity to be heard; and
b: receiving any evidence the court thinks fit,— determine whether or not the Registrar-General should act under that section. Section 85(1) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 85(1) amended 24 January 2009 section 34(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 85(2) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 85(2) amended 24 January 2009 section 34(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 85(3) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 85(3) amended 24 January 2009 section 34(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
85A: Health information may be used to correct records
1: The chief executive of the department for the time being responsible for administering the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022
a: advise the Registrar-General of an apparent omission or error if he or she believes on reasonable grounds that a person's birth or death has not been registered under this Act or has been registered incorrectly; and
b: provide to the Registrar-General sufficient information to allow the error or omission to be corrected.
2: The Registrar-General may correct birth information or death information in accordance with information provided under this section. Section 85A inserted 24 January 2009 section 35 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 85A(1) amended 1 July 2022 section 104 Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022
85B: Information recorded under Act may be used to update information kept under Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2004
1: The Registrar-General may use registered information to update HART information.
2: However, the Registrar-General may do so only if he or she is satisfied that the registered information relates to a donor, donor offspring, or donor offspring's guardian, about whom HART information is kept.
3: In this section,— donor donor offspring guardian Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2004 HART information Part 3 registered information Section 85B inserted 24 January 2009 section 35 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
11A: Miscellaneous provisions
Part 11A heading added 24 January 2009 section 36 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
86: Entries relating to illegitimate children
All entries in any register made pursuant to section 25 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1924 1951 No 22 s 40
87: Statutory declarations
The Registrar-General and every Registrar shall, in respect of any statutory declaration made for the purposes of this Act , the Marriage Act 1955 Civil Union Act 2004 section 9 1951 No 22 s 44 Section 87 amended 26 April 2005 section 46 Civil Union Act 2004
87A: Provision of information to Statistics New Zealand
This Act does not limit the provision of information under the Data and Statistics Act 2022 Section 87A inserted 24 January 2009 section 37 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 87A amended 1 September 2022 section 107(1) Data and Statistics Act 2022
87AB: Access to information for purposes of Identity Information Confirmation Act 2012
Nothing in this Act limits access to information that is recorded under this Act if the access is for the purposes of, and in accordance with, the Identity Information Confirmation Act 2012 Section 87AB inserted 19 December 2012 section 22 Identity Information Confirmation Act 2012
87B: Registrar-General may issue standard forms
1: The Registrar-General may issue forms (including electronic forms)
2: Information required by the forms must be prescribed by regulations and may include information prescribed to be contained in certificates under this Act. Section 87B inserted 24 January 2009 section 37 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 87B(1) amended 16 December 2017 section 10 Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017
88: Regulations
1: The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations—
a: prescribing fees to be paid for the purposes of this Act:
ab: specifying the grounds on which a request for a non-disclosure direction may be made to the Registrar-General under section 75A(2)﻿(b)
ac: specifying the grounds on which a request for the reinstatement of a non-disclosure direction may be made to the Registrar-General under section 75B(4)﻿(b)
ad: prescribing the period referred to in section 75B(3)﻿(a) section 75A(2)﻿(b)
ae: prescribing, for the purposes of section 21A(2)﻿(c)﻿(i)
i: when and how the information must be verified:
ii: what evidence must be provided to verify the information:
iii: requirements with which evidence must comply:
b: providing for any other matters contemplated by or necessary for giving full effect to this Act and for its due administration.
2: Regulations made under subsection (1) may require the giving and collection of information for the purpose of statistics, including matters to be notified, matters to be registered, or both.
3: Regulations under this section are secondary legislation ( see Part 3 1951 No 22 s 45 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette LA19 s 69(1)﻿(c) Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act. Section 88(1)﻿(ab) inserted 24 January 2009 section 38 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 88(1)﻿(ac) inserted 24 January 2009 section 38 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 88(1)﻿(ad) inserted 24 January 2009 section 38 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 88(1)﻿(ae) inserted 16 December 2017 section 11 Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017 Section 88(3) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021
89: Offences and penalties
1: Every person commits an offence who—
a: makes or causes to be made, for the purpose of the recording of any information under this Act, any statement that is, and is known by that person to be, false in relation to any particular matter required to be notified or recorded under this Act:
b: being a person (other than a Registrar) with control of or access to a device on which registered information is stored electronically, knowingly and without the consent of a Registrar—
i: deletes or alters any information stored on the device; or
ii: allows any information stored on the device to be deleted or altered; or
iii: stores any information (whether correct or incorrect) on the device; or
iv: allows any information (whether correct or incorrect) to be stored on the device,— (whether directly or by alteration of or damage to the device, its programming, any other device, the programming of any other device, or any electronic storage medium):
c: being a Registrar, knowingly—
i: deletes or alters any registered information stored electronically on any device; or
ii: allows any registered information stored electronically on any device to be deleted or altered; or
iii: stores any information (whether correct or incorrect) on a device on which registered information is stored electronically by or on behalf of the Registrar-General; or
iv: allows any information (whether correct or incorrect) to be stored on a device on which registered information is stored electronically by or on behalf of the Registrar-General,— otherwise than in accordance with this Act (whether directly or by alteration of or damage to the device, its programming, any other device, the programming of any other device, or any electronic storage medium):
d: acts in contravention of or fails to comply with any provision of this Act (not being a provision requiring the person to give any notice or information):
e: having had the relevant provision of this Act drawn to the person's attention, fails or refuses to give any information required by this Act to be given:
f: being a Registrar,—
i: negligently loses or damages a document containing information recorded under this Act or a former Act, or any part of such a document; or
ii: negligently allows it to be damaged; or
iii: negligently does any act referred to in paragraph (c):
g: makes a written or oral statement, knowing that it is false or being reckless as to whether it is false, for the purpose of obtaining a source document, or a copy of a source document, or information recorded under this Act:
h: for a purpose contemplated by this Act, provides any means of identification knowing that it is false or having reason to suspect that it has been forged or falsified:
i: for the purpose of applying for registration of a name change under section 21A
2: Every person who commits an offence against subsection (1)﻿(a) or subsection (1)﻿(b) or subsection (1)﻿(c) shall be liable on conviction
2A: A person who commits an offence against subsection (1)﻿(g) or (h) is liable, on
2B: A person who commits an offence against subsection (1)﻿(i) is liable, on conviction, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years.
3: A person who commits any other offence against this Act is liable, on
a: $50,000 for a contravention of or failure to comply with section 78F(7) 78I
b: $10,000 for a contravention of or failure to comply with section 42
c: $1,000 for—
i: a contravention of or failure to comply with a provision of this Act other than section 42 78F(7) 78I
ii: an offence against any of subsection (1)﻿(d) to (f).
4: Nothing in this section derogates from section 150 Section 89(1)﻿(g) added 24 January 2009 section 39(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 89(1)﻿(h) added 24 January 2009 section 39(1) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 89(1)﻿(i) inserted 16 December 2017 section 12(1) Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017 Section 89(2) amended 1 July 2013 section 413 Criminal Procedure Act 2011 Section 89(2) amended 24 January 2009 section 39(2) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 89(2A) inserted 24 January 2009 section 39(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 89(2A) amended 1 July 2013 section 413 Criminal Procedure Act 2011 Section 89(2B) inserted 16 December 2017 section 12(2) Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017 Section 89(3) substituted 24 January 2009 section 39(3) Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 89(3) amended 1 July 2013 section 413 Criminal Procedure Act 2011
89A: Electronic transactions
1: Any transaction under this Act may be conducted by electronic means, subject to the approval of the Registrar-General and any conditions that the Registrar-General thinks fit.
2: If allowing a transaction to be conducted electronically, the Registrar-General may dispense with a requirement that a signature be provided.
2A: A requirement for a court or its Registrar to give notice (in the case of section 23 section 59 60 62E 62F
2B: To avoid doubt,—
a: the Ministry of Justice satisfies the requirements of subsection (2A) by providing the information required in the notice or certificate (as the case may be), and is not required to provide the actual notice or certificate (whether by electronic means or otherwise):
b: the obligation for a court or its Registrar to give the notice or certificate referred to in subsection (2A) ceases only when the Ministry of Justice has provided the information in accordance with that subsection.
3: In this section, transaction section 209 Section 89A inserted 24 January 2009 section 40 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Section 89A(2A) inserted 5 December 2013 section 4 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act (No 2) 2013 Section 89A(2B) inserted 5 December 2013 section 4 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act (No 2) 2013 Section 89A(3) amended 1 September 2017 section 347 Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017
90: No prosecution without authority of Registrar-General
No prosecution for an offence against this Act shall be commenced without the authority of the Registrar-General. 1951 No 22 s 49
91: Fees
1: If empowered by this Act or any other Act to do any act for which a fee is payable, the Registrar-General or a Registrar may refuse to do the act until the fee is paid.
2: Notwithstanding anything in this Act, the Registrar-General (or to the extent that a Registrar is authorised by the Registrar-General to do so, the Registrar) may—
a: dispense with the payment of all or any part of any fee payable under this Act; or
b: refund all or any part of any fee paid under this Act.
3: Despite anything in this Act, a fee is not payable, within 10 years after the death of a person, for any of the following in respect of information about that person recorded under section 50
a: permitting the inspection of a document containing the information:
b: providing access to, or a copy of, a document containing the information:
c: providing a print-out of the information. 1951 No 22 ss 36(5), 50 Section 91(3) substituted 24 January 2009 section 41 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
91A: No liability for costs incurred in supplying information
To avoid doubt, the Crown is not liable for the costs incurred by a person in supplying information required by this Act. Section 91A inserted 24 January 2009 section 42 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008
91B: Protection for supply of information
No civil or criminal proceedings may be brought against the Crown, a Registrar, or any other person for the disclosure or supply of information in the course of the exercise or performance or intended exercise or performance of any powers, functions, or duties under this Act, unless it is shown that the information was disclosed or supplied in bad faith. Section 91B inserted 24 January 2009 section 42 Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 Amendments to Marriage Act 1955
92: Interpretation
Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s)
93: Issue of marriage licence and information return
Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s)
94: Validity of service marriages
Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s) Consequential amendments and repeals
95: Consequential amendments
The enactments specified in Schedule 1
96: Repeals
The enactments specified in Schedule 2