New proof of identity requirement helps safeguard personal information
14 January 2009
Law changes effective from 25 January 2009 require anyone ordering a birth, death, marriage, civil union or name change certificate to show evidence of their identity unless the record is an old one.
“While maintaining public access to the registers, these new requirements also provide better safeguards for people’s personal information,” says Registrar-General Brian Clarke.
When applying for a certificate or related products people need to sign a written statement saying that the information they are providing is true and correct. The statement must also be signed by a person of standing in the community.
These new requirements apply to recent records only. People ordering certificates and related products for old “historical” records do not need to provide evidence of their identity. These records include:
- Births that occurred 100 years ago or more
- Still births that occurred 50 years ago or more
- Marriages (and eventually) civil unions that occurred 80 years ago or more
- Deaths that occurred 50 years ago or more, or where 80 years has passed since the birth of the deceased.
A new register has been created to record the name changes of New Zealand citizens and permanent residents who were born in another country. Those people will now be able to get a formal name change certificate recording their name changes registered after 25 January 2009.
For further information on the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995, visit www.bdm.govt.nz or phone 0800 22 77 77.
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Media Contact: Michael Mead, Senior Communications Adviser, Phone: 04 382 3437
Email: michael.mead@dia.govt.nz
