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Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021

Registration of information - Births - Registration of births

18: Registrar-General may decline to register certain names

You could also call this:

"The Registrar-General can say no to some names that don't follow the rules."

Illustration for Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021

The Registrar-General can decide not to register a name if it does not meet certain rules. You can have one surname and one or more other names, or just one name if it is required by your religion or culture. If you are not happy with the Registrar-General's decision, you can appeal under section 30. The Registrar-General thinks a name is not suitable if it might offend someone, is too long, or sounds like a title. You can appeal if you do not agree with the Registrar-General's decision. The Registrar-General must follow the rules when deciding what names to register. If the Registrar-General says no to a name, you can appeal against this decision under section 30 or other related sections like section 71.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7273643.

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Topics:
Family and relationships > Children and parentingRights and equality > Anti-discrimination
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Part 2Registration of information
Births: Registration of births

18Registrar-General may decline to register certain names

  1. The Registrar-General may register a name or combination of names only if, after the name or combination of names is registered, the person’s birth record will include—

  2. 1 name as the person’s surname and 1 or more other names; or
    1. if the religious or philosophical beliefs, or cultural traditions, of the person or of a parent (whether living or dead) or living guardian of the person require the person to have only 1 name, 1 name; or
      1. if the birth is a stillbirth, 1 name as the child’s surname.

        1. The Registrar-General must, if the requirements of subsection (1) are met, register the name or combination of names unless the Registrar-General considers it is undesirable in the public interest for a person to have the name or combination of names.

        2. A person affected by a decision of the Registrar-General to decline to register a name or combination of names under subsection (2) may appeal against the decision under section 30.

        3. For the purposes of this section and sections 30 and 71, it is undesirable in the public interest for a person to have a name or combination of names if the name or combination of names—

        4. might cause offence to a reasonable person; or
          1. is unreasonably long; or
            1. is, includes, or resembles an official title or rank (without adequate justification).

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