Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Immigration Act 2009

Compliance and information - Power to require production of documents, etc

279A: Treatment of identity documents and other things

You could also call this:

“How the government handles your identity documents and other items”

In this law, an identity document can be a few different things. It can be any proof of who you are, a passport, or a certificate that shows your identity. It can also include documents for your child if there’s a good reason to think the child might need to leave New Zealand.

If you have to give up your identity documents or other things because of the law, the government can use them to help you leave New Zealand if you need to.

When the government doesn’t need your documents or things anymore, they have to give them back to you. This happens when you leave New Zealand, when you get permission to enter New Zealand, or when you’re allowed to stay in New Zealand.

Remember, if you want to know more about when you might need to give up your documents, you can look at sections 280 to 281B of this law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6471309.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Visas
Immigration and citizenship > Border control
Government and voting > Government departments
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279: Powers of immigration officer to require information and documents where offence suspected, or

“Immigration officer can ask for your details and documents if they suspect you've broken immigration law”

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280: Power of immigration officer to request information and documents where liability for deportation or turnaround suspected, or

“Immigration officer can request information to check if you can stay in New Zealand”

Part 8 Compliance and information
Power to require production of documents, etc

279ATreatment of identity documents and other things

  1. In this section and sections 280 to 281B, identity document, in relation to a person, means all or any of the following:

  2. documentary or other evidence of the person’s identity:
    1. any passport or certificate of identity relating or purporting to relate to the person, whether or not it also relates to any other person:
      1. any passport or certificate of identity relating to a dependent child of the person (but only in circumstances where there is good cause to suspect that the child is liable for deportation or turnaround).

        1. Any identity documents or things surrendered or obtained under sections 280 to 281B may be used by the Crown toward effecting the person's deportation or departure from New Zealand.

        2. To the extent that any identity documents or things surrendered or obtained under sections 280 to 281B are not used or required for the person's deportation or departure from New Zealand, they must be returned to the person—

        3. on the person's departure from New Zealand or on the person being granted a visa and entry permission; or
          1. when the person's liability for deportation is cancelled or suspended, or ceases for any reason.

            Notes
            • Section 279A: inserted, on , by section 67 of the Immigration Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 48).