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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Land Transport Act 1998

Motor vehicle registration and licensing - Register of motor vehicles

241: Authorised access to name and address only

You could also call this:

“Rules for seeing names and addresses of people who own cars”

The Secretary can allow certain people or groups to see the names, addresses, and electronic addresses of people who have registered their motor vehicles. This is how it works:

The Secretary talks to the Privacy Commissioner, Chief Ombudsman, and Police Commissioner first. Then, they can put a notice in the Gazette saying who can see this information. The notice says what the information can be used for, any rules about using it, and how long people can use it (up to 5 years).

If you want to get this permission, you need to apply to the Secretary and pay a fee. The Secretary will decide if you can have the information and will let you know.

The Secretary can say no if they think you’re not asking for a good reason. They can also change or cancel the permission at any time by putting another notice in the Gazette.

Before giving out the information, the Registrar makes sure it will be kept safe, used properly, and won’t cause problems for people who want to keep their information private.

This permission doesn’t let you see information about people who used to have registered vehicles or people who have said they don’t want their information shared.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2214272.

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Part 17 Motor vehicle registration and licensing
Register of motor vehicles

241Authorised access to name and address only

  1. After consulting with the Privacy Commissioner, the Chief Ombudsman, and the Commissioner of Police, the Secretary may, by notice in the Gazette, authorise specified persons or classes of persons to have access to the names, addresses, and electronic addresses (if any) of persons registered in respect of motor vehicles and information on those vehicles—

  2. for specified purposes (in addition to the purposes recognised by section 235); and
    1. on conditions that the Secretary thinks fit; and
      1. for a specified event or specified period of time not exceeding 5 years.

        1. The Secretary may, as the Secretary thinks fit, cancel or amend by notice in the Gazette a notice published under subsection (1).

        2. An application for authorisation under subsection (1) must be—

        3. made to the Secretary in accordance with any regulations made under this Part; and
          1. accompanied by the prescribed fee.

            1. The Secretary must decide whether to approve the application, and must inform the applicant of the Secretary’s decision, within a reasonable time after receiving the information reasonably required to make the decision.

            2. The Secretary may refuse to consider the application if the Secretary believes that it is vexatious or frivolous.

            3. The Registrar may withhold the names and addresses of registered persons from a person authorised by a notice published under subsection (1) until the Registrar is satisfied that—

            4. the names and addresses will be—
              1. kept secure by that person and the person’s agents, if any; and
                1. used only for the purpose specified in the notice published under subsection (1); and
                2. provision of the names and addresses will not compromise the purpose of any confidential status granted under section 239; and
                  1. any conditions specified in that notice will be complied with.

                    1. An authorisation under subsection (1) does not authorise any person or class of person to have access to the names and addresses of persons—

                    2. who were previously registered in respect of motor vehicles; or
                      1. who have notified the Registrar, in accordance with any regulations made under this Part, that they do not wish to have their names and addresses made available under subsection (1).

                        Notes
                        • Section 241: added, on , by section 32(4) of the Land Transport Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 17).
                        • Section 241(1): amended, on , by section 36(1) of the Land Transport (Road Safety) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 62).
                        • Section 241(2): amended, on , by section 36(2) of the Land Transport (Road Safety) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 62).
                        • Section 241(4): amended, on , by section 36(3)(a) of the Land Transport (Road Safety) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 62).
                        • Section 241(4): amended, on , by section 36(3)(b) of the Land Transport (Road Safety) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 62).
                        • Section 241(6)(a)(i): amended, on , by section 36(4) of the Land Transport (Road Safety) Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 62).