Citizenship Act 1977

New Zealand citizenship - Loss of citizenship

16: Deprivation of New Zealand citizenship in special cases

You could also call this:

"Losing Your New Zealand Citizenship in Special Situations"

The Minister can take away your New Zealand citizenship in special cases. You must be 18 years or older and have full capacity for this to happen. The Minister must be satisfied that you have done something against New Zealand's interests.

If you get the nationality or citizenship of another country on purpose and act against New Zealand's interests, the Minister can take away your New Zealand citizenship. You can also lose your citizenship if you use the privileges or do the duties of another nationality or citizenship you have, and you do it in a way that is against New Zealand's interests. This is subject to section 19.

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This page was last updated on 29 September 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM443889.

Topics:

Immigration and citizenship > Becoming a citizenRights and equality > Anti-discrimination

15: Renunciation of citizenship, or

"Giving up your New Zealand citizenship if you're 18 or older and a citizen of another country"

17: Deprivation of New Zealand citizenship in case of fraud, etc, or

"Losing Your New Zealand Citizenship if You Got it by Cheating or Mistake"

Part 1New Zealand citizenship
Loss of citizenship

16Deprivation of New Zealand citizenship in special cases

Subject to section 19, the Minister may, by order, deprive a person of his New Zealand citizenship if he is satisfied that the person has, while a New Zealand citizen and while of or over the age of 18 years and of full capacity,—
acquired the nationality or citizenship of another country by any voluntary and formal act, and acted in a manner that is contrary to the interests of New Zealand; or
voluntarily exercised any of the privileges or performed any of the duties of another nationality or citizenship possessed by him in a manner that is contrary to the interests of New Zealand.

Compare

1948 No 15 s 22

Notes

Section 16 heading: amended, on 21 April 2005, by section 10(1) of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 43).
Section 16(a): amended, on 21 April 2005, by section 10(2) of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 43).