To be a permanent resident of New Zealand, you must live in New Zealand. You also must not be someone who has to follow certain rules from the Immigration Act 2009, such as section 15 or section 16. You must not have to leave New Zealand immediately or by a certain time, and you must not be in New Zealand unlawfully.

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This page was last updated on 18 July 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM308824.

Topics:

Immigration and citizenship > VisasImmigration and citizenship > Becoming a citizenGovernment and voting > Elections

72: Rules for determining place of residence within New Zealand, or

"How to decide where you live in New Zealand for voting purposes"

74: Qualification of electors, or

"Who can vote in New Zealand elections"

Part 5Registration of electors

73Meaning of permanent resident of New Zealand

For the purposes of this Act, a person is a permanent resident of New Zealand if, and only if, that person—
resides in New Zealand; and
is not—
1. a person to whom section 15 or 16 of the Immigration Act 2009 applies; or
2. a person obliged by or under that Act to leave New Zealand immediately or within a specified time; or
3. treated for the purposes of that Act as being unlawfully in New Zealand.

Compare

1987 No 74 s 151(1)

Notes

Section 73(a): substituted, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).
Section 73(b): substituted, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).