Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021

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

93: Only certain persons may access source documents

You could also call this:

"Only some people can see or get copies of important documents"

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

You can look at or get a copy of a source document if you are the person in the document or their representative. You can also access it if you need to check the information is correct or for a reason that is similar to why the information was recorded. However, there are some limits to who can see certain documents. You might not be able to see a pre-1998 register, but you can check section 94 for more information. The Registrar-General can make some historical information available to the public for a fee. This is an exception to the usual rules about who can access source documents. The Registrar-General has control over some documents and can decide who can see them. They can make some information available to the public, but only if it is allowed by the rules. You can pay a fee to see some historical information if it is made available by the Registrar-General.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7316511.

This page was last updated on 6 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Government and voting > Government departmentsRights and equality > Privacy

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."

94: Page of pre-1998 register accessed electronically may contain additional information, or

"Old birth, death, and marriage records online may show extra details"

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

93Only certain persons may access source documents

Only the following persons may inspect or obtain a copy of a source document:
the individual who is the subject of the information contained in a source document (or the individual’s personal representative):
a person who requires access for—
1. the maintenance of the accuracy of information recorded in the registry; or
2. a purpose consistent with the purpose of recording information under this Act that cannot be met by obtaining a certificate or printout.

However, a person described in subsection (1)(a) may not inspect or obtain a copy of a pre-1998 register under section 92 (but see section 94).
Despite subsections (1) and (2), the Registrar-General (or other person who has control over notices of intention to marry) may make a notice of intention to marry containing historical information available for inspection by the public for a prescribed fee (if any).

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