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Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021

Searches and disclosure of information - Public access to information - Special purpose searches

95: Non-disclosure direction does not apply to searches for certain authorised purposes

You could also call this:

"Getting information despite a non-disclosure direction for important reasons like court cases or adoption."

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

You can get information from the Registrar-General even if it has a non-disclosure direction. This can happen if you need the information for a court case or to find out about your birth family if you are adopted. You can also get the information if you are looking after someone's estate or trust and need it to do your job. You might need the information to make sure it is accurate. The Registrar-General can give you the information if you can show that you need it for a good reason. This reason must be related to why the information was recorded in the first place. The Registrar-General can give you the information if you cannot get what you need from a certificate or printout. You must show the Registrar-General that you need the information for a valid reason. The reason must be consistent with the purpose of recording the information under the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021, which you can find out more about by reading section 91.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7318900.

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Topics:
Family and relationships > Children and parentingFamily and relationships > Adoption and guardianshipCrime and justice > Courts and legal help
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94: Page of pre-1998 register accessed electronically may contain additional information, or

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

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96: Non-disclosure direction and access register requirements do not apply to certain searches by public sector agencies, or

"Some government agencies don't have to follow rules when searching for information to enforce the law."

Part 4Searches and disclosure of information
Public access to information: Special purpose searches

95Non-disclosure direction does not apply to searches for certain authorised purposes

  1. The Registrar-General may comply with a request for access to information under section 91 by any of the following persons even if the information is subject to a non-disclosure direction:

  2. a person who requires the information for use in proceedings in a court or tribunal:
    1. an adopted person who is searching for information about the adopted person’s birth family:
      1. an executor, an administrator, or a trustee of an estate or a trust who requires the information for the administration of the estate or trust:
        1. a person who satisfies the Registrar-General that access to the information or a source document is required for the maintenance of the accuracy of the information:
          1. a person who satisfies the Registrar-General that access to a source document is required for a purpose consistent with the purpose of recording information under this Act that cannot be met by obtaining a certificate or printout.

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