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Birth Certificates and Adoption
When a person has been legally adopted in New Zealand, the birth certificate that we normally issue is the post-adoptive birth certificate, showing the details of the adoptive parents.
If you are born in New Zealand and adopted in New Zealand, you may wish to apply for a copy of your original, pre-adoptive birth certificate, showing the details of your birth before you were adopted.
Under New Zealand law, you can do this once you turn 20, by writing to Births, Deaths and Marriages. You will need to fully complete a General Identity Declaration (BDM 130) application form and supply the following each and every time you make an application for your pre-adoptive birth certificate:
- Your full name (post-adoptive)
- Your place of birth
- Your date of birth
- The full name(s) of your adoptive parent(s)
- Your postal address, email address and telephone number
- Your original signature (not a photocopy, fax or electronic signature)
- Payment for the certificate of NZ$15.00 (includes postage anywhere in the world)
- If you are living in New Zealand, provide the name of a person or organisation approved to undertake counselling under the Adult Adoption Information Act 1985 or contact us for a list of approved counsellors
If you live in New Zealand and the details of one or both of your birth parents appear on the original birth certificate, New Zealand law requires that you choose a counsellor that has been approved by the Minister of Social Welfare and tell the Registrar-General who you have chosen. The Registrar-General will then send your birth certificate to that counsellor. The counsellor will contact you and arrange for you to receive the birth certificate.
The role of the counsellor is to give you information, assistance and support. The counsellor cannot withhold information you are legally entitled to, and may be able to give you helpful advice about how to search for and contact your birth parent(s).
If you live outside New Zealand, your pre-adoptive birth certificate will be sent to you with a note giving the address of the Child, Youth and Family Service, to contact if you have any questions.
VetoesAccess to information on pre-adoptive birth registrations can be restricted by a veto in certain circumstances:
For adoptions before 1 March 1986:
- If you are adopted and you do not wish to have your birth parents contact you, once you are 19 years old, you can write a signed letter to the Registrar-General at Births, Deaths and Marriages stating that you do not want information which would identify you to be released. You must also indicate to the Registrar-General whether or not you desire counselling.
- If you are a birth parent of a child you may write a signed letter to the Registrar-General at Births, Deaths and Marriages to prevent the release of information about yourself contained in the child's original birth registration. You must also indicate to the Registrar-General whether or not you desire counselling.
For adoptions on or after 1 March 1986:
- Birth parents of an adopted child may not place a veto on information.
A veto remains in place for 10 years from the date it was recorded and, can be removed or a new veto may be put in place for an additional 10 years at any time. If an existing veto is about to expire and you would like it to continue then please write a signed letter to the Register-General at Births, Deaths and Marriages before the current veto expires.
For more information on vetoes, please contact Births, Deaths and Marriages, or:
Adoption Services
Child, Youth and Family
Ministry of Social Development
Private Bag 6901
Marion Square
Wellington 6141
Phone: (04) 917-1155
Fax: (04) 918-0029
www.cyf.govt.nz
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