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Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021

Searches and disclosure of information - Public access to information - Named person searches

91: Any person may request access to information in relation to named person

You could also call this:

"You can ask to see information about a specific person's birth, death, marriage, or name change."

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

You can ask to see information about a specific person. You must confirm your identity under section 88 if required. You can ask the Registrar-General to search for information or provide documents. You can ask the Registrar-General to search for information about a person's birth, death, marriage, or name change. You can also ask for a printout or certificate of the information. You can ask to see the original document or get a copy of it. When you make a request, you must say who the information is about. You must follow the Registrar-General's directions and pay the required fee. If you are asking for information on behalf of someone else, you must say who that person is. You must also say if you are asking for the information as their representative. You must provide identification to confirm the identity of the person you are asking for.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7316510.

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Topics:
Family and relationships > Children and parentingFamily and relationships > Marriage and partnershipsRights and equality > Privacy
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90: Registrar-General may make historical information available online, or

"Historical birth, marriage, and death information is available online"

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92: Registrar-General may provide access to information or document unless restriction applies, or

"The Registrar-General can give you information or documents if you meet the rules and there are no restrictions."

Part 4Searches and disclosure of information
Public access to information: Named person searches

91Any person may request access to information in relation to named person

  1. A person may, after their identity is confirmed under section 88 (if required), request the Registrar-General to—

  2. search for information relating to a named person’s birth, death, marriage (or intended marriage), civil union, or name change; or
    1. provide a printout or certificate of the information; or
      1. permit the inspection of, or provide a copy of, a source document relating to a named person’s birth, death, marriage (or intended marriage), civil union, or name change; or
        1. provide electronic access to a page of a pre-1998 register that contains historical information in respect of a named person.

          1. The request must—

          2. specify the named person to whom the information or document relates; and
            1. be made in accordance with any directions issued by the Registrar-General; and
              1. be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

                1. A person making a request on behalf of another person must—

                2. identify the person on whose behalf the request is made; and
                  1. specify whether the person making the request is making the request in their capacity as the personal representative of the person on whose behalf the request is made; and
                    1. provide any means of identification that the Registrar-General reasonably requires to confirm the identity of the person on whose behalf the request is made.

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                      Notes
                      • Section 91(1): amended, on , by section 19 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74).