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New Zealand birth certificate forest scene

Birth Certificate A - Forest

New Zealand birth certificate beach scene

Birth Certificate B - Beach

Birth Certificate C - Standard

Pictorial Birth Certificates
What is a birth certificate?
How to apply
Trusted Referee Defined
How long will it take?
What happens if we cannot find the birth?
How do I apply for a pre-adoptive birth certificate?
Non-disclosure direction
Frequently asked questions about certificates
Access Register

Pictorial Birth Certificates
The birth of a child is a major event in any family’s life. Celebrate by turning the official record of birth into a treasured keepsake. To record the special event we offer a choice of two pictorial birth certificates, each uniquely New Zealand. What better gift for a child, partner, relative, friend or yourself. Buy separately or as a package with a standard birth certificate. See the order form for details.

Birth Certificate A - Forest

New life unfolds from the koru and brings richness and abundance to the great forests. The harakeke (flax) reflects the strength and endurance of the whanau (family) as each new leaf grows from the mother and is supported by the father.

Birth Certificate B - Beach

A mother nurtures her new baby as the warmth of the day provides nourishment and strength for life’s wonderful journey ahead.

Birth Certificate C - Standard

What is a Birth Certificate?
A birth certificate is an official document containing registered information about a person's birth. You may obtain a certificate by providing the required details and paying the certificate fee.

Typically, certificates are used for such purposes as:

Getting a driver's licence;
Enrolling at school;
Applying for welfare benefits.

How To Apply
If the certificate or printout is for a record that is “non-historical”

Complete the Request for a Birth Certificate or Printout (BDM 93B) form, have a 'trusted referee' sign the written statement and post it with payment Births, Deaths and Marriages; or
Complete the Request for a Birth Certificate or Printout (BDM 93B) form, have a 'trusted referee' sign the written statement and fax it with credit card payment to Births, Deaths and Marriages; or
Visit one of our offices, complete the Request for a Birth Certificate or Printout (BDM 93B) form, have a 'trusted referee' sign the written statement, and make payment.

The applicant must provide additional information about themselves (e.g. date and place of birth), sign the order form and find a trusted referee to also sign the order form on the following conditions:

If the applicant’s birth is registered in New Zealand either the 'trusted referee' must have known the applicant for at least 12 months or a government-issued photo identification must be shown to the 'trusted referee'.
If the applicant’s birth is not registered in New Zealand a government-issued photo identification must be shown to the 'trusted referee'.

If the certificate or printout is for a record that is “historical”

Use our BDM Historical Records Website to search historical records and order products on the Internet
Download and complete the Request for a Birth Certificate or Printout (BDM 93B) form and post it with a cheque or bank draft (in New Zealand currency) or a New Zealand Post money order to Births, Deaths and Marriages; or
Write to Births, Deaths and Marriages with the details we need and a cheque or bank draft (in New Zealand currency) or a New Zealand Post money order; or
Fax Births, Deaths and Marriages with appropriate details and your credit card details; or
Call Free (NZ) 0800 22 52 52 or phone (+64 4) 474 8150 (from outside New Zealand) and provide details over the phone if paying by credit card (Visa, American Express, Prezzy Card or Mastercard); or
Visit one of our offices.

Historical Records Defined

Record type	Description
Birth	A birth that occurred at least 100 years ago (subject to restrictions on pre-adoptive/ pre-sex-change information), or A still-birth that occurred at least 50 years ago.
Name Change	A name change for a person whose birth is registered outside New Zealand and who was born at least 100 years ago. Note that this only applies to name changes registered on or after 25 January 2009.
Death	Where the death occurred at least 50 years ago, or The deceased person's date of birth was at least 80 years ago.
Marriage	A marriage that occurred at least 80 years ago.
Civil Union	A civil union that occurred at least 80 years ago. Note that the first civil union was solemnised on 29 April 2005.

Trusted Referee Defined
A trusted referee must be at least 16 years of age and one of the following:

Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Commonwealth representative
Member of the police
Justice of the Peace
Registered medical doctor
Kaumatua
Registered teacher
Applicant's employer
Minister of religion
Lawyer
Notary Public
New Zealand Honorary Consuls may also act as trusted referees (although they are not listed in Panel C of the order form)

The trusted referee must not be a:

Relative or part of the family group of the applicant; or
Partner of the applicant; or
Person who lives at the same address as the applicant.

How Long Will it Take?
Births registered before 1 January 1998
Your request for a certificate or printout will take approximately eight (8) working days (plus time for postage) from confirmation of a correct and completed application.

Births registered on or after 1 January 1998
Your request for a certificate or printout will take approximately one (1) working day (plus time for postage) from confirmation of a correct and completed application. Certificates cannot be produced until the birth has been registered.

To avoid any delays, please make sure that:

You have addressed your application to Births, Deaths and Marriages;
The declaration section has been completed and signed (if applicable);
You have given the correct information (e.g. date, spelling of names) in your application;
You have included correct certificate fee(s);
If you are paying by credit card, all your credit card details are correctly supplied; and
You have included your return address.

What Happens If We Cannot Find The Birth?
It is important the information you provide with your certificate request is as accurate as possible. It may be an idea to ask other family members for information before making your request.

The certificate fee is the cost for the product. If we cannot locate the record with the information provided, we still start charging you search fees. Prior to contacting you, we will have searched a 3-year period and a fee of NZ$15.00 will have been charged.

For example, if the year you quote is 1992 we undertake a search in the year given plus a year either side. If we cannot find the birth in those years we will contact you to ask if you would like us to search additional years at NZ$1.00 for each additional year. If you agree and request us to search 1994 and 1995 then we will charge you an extra NZ$2.00:

If we find the birth in 1995 and you wish to have a certificate then the total fee for the certificate is NZ$43.00 (NZ$26.00 plus the NZ$17.00 search cost); or
If we cannot find the birth the total fee will be NZ$17.00 (NZ$15.00 plus NZ$2.00 search cost) and you will not receive a certificate. However, you can request more years to be searched or we can refund the amount remaining to you.

How do I Apply for a Pre-adoptive Birth Certificate?
When a person has been legally adopted, the birth certificate that we normally issue is the post-adoptive birth certificate, showing the details of the adoptive parents. If you are adopted, 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. Please see 'Birth Certificates and Adoption' for further information about how to apply.

Non-Disclosure Direction

A non-disclosure direction may be placed on a person’s records if the person, or his or her personal representative (e.g. person’s parents or other person authorised in writing), reasonably believes that disclosure of the registered information, or any part of the registered information, would be prejudicial to the personal safety of that person or his or her family. A non-disclosure direction expires after 5 years unless it is reinstated or withdrawn.

If a non-disclosure direction is in place on a person’s record(s), generally only the person who is the subject of the information (or a parent if the person is under 18), or any other person authorised by the subject of the information may access registered information on the record(s). If any other person attempts to access registered information when a non-disclosure direction is in place he or she will be advised that the information exists but that the information cannot be provided.

Please contact us for further information.


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Last updated: 26/06/2009