Contact us

What do you want to contact us about?

(Services listed alphabetically)

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

See also: Our public office locations

Public service updates

Aotearoa:

Our public counters are open for appointment only. To book an appointment, please visit our websites below. We encourage you to apply wherever possible using our online services:

National Library and Archives NZ:

Please follow guidelines for visiting The National Library and Archives NZ

Sydney:

Our Bond Street office is open by appointment. Head to our website to book an appointment

London:

Our London office is open by appointment only – please contact us to make an appointment.

Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism 

Information and resources to help New Zealand businesses understand and maintain their systems and processes in order to comply with  their Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism obligations.

Contacts and locations

 

Archives New Zealand, Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga 

Guardian of the New Zealand government record and manager of the Public Records Act 2006. Archives New Zealand’s holdings include the originals of the Treaty of Waitangi, government documents, maps, plans, paintings, film and sound recordings. The General Manager is the Chief Archivist.

Contacts and locations

 

Apostille Certification

See: Document Authentication

 

Authentication Unit

See: Document Authentication

Back to the Top

Births, Deaths and Marriages 

Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registers and maintains New Zealand birth, death, marriage and name change information, and issues certificates and printouts.

Contacts and locations

Back to the Top

Casino Inspectors

See: Gambling

 

Censorship Compliance 

See: Prevention of Online Harms

 

Charities 

Charities Services work to support more than 27,800 registered charities in Aotearoa by administering the Charities Act 2005. We promote public trust and confidence in the charitable sector and encourage the effective use of charitable resources.

Contacts and locations

 

Citizenship 

Functions relating to New Zealand citizenship, including registrations for citizenship by descent, applications for citizenship by grant, proof of citizenship and changing your citizenship status.

Contacts and locations

If your enquiry relates to immigration visas, travel movements, or travel requirements please contact New Zealand Immigration: www.immigration.govt.nz/contact

If your enquiry is about travelling to New Zealand during the pandemic, see www.miq.govt.nz

 

Commissions of Inquiry 

See: Public and Government Inquiries

 

Community grants, funding and advisory services

Community Operations - Hāpai Hapori - leads the Department’s direct interface with New Zealand communities, primarily by providing information, resources and advice to communities and the administration of grant funding.

Contacts and locations 

 

Complaints

If you wish to make a complaint to the Department of Internal Affairs, please contact the relevant service (see contact list above) or email complaints@dia.govt.nz. For further information see our customer complaints procedure.

 

Congratulatory Messages 

You can get a congratulatory message for significant birthdays and wedding anniversaries from the King and New Zealand dignitaries. This is a free service for all New Zealand citizens and permanent residents who live in New Zealand.

Contacts and locations

 

Countering Violent Extremism Online

See: Prevention of Online Harms

Back to the Top

Daylight Saving

The Department of Internal Affairs administers the Time Act 1974 and the New Zealand Daylight Time Order.

Contact: daylightsaving@dia.govt.nz
More information about Daylight Saving

 

Deaths

See: Births, Deaths and Marriages

 

Digital Child Exploitation Team

See: Prevention of Online Harms

 

Digital Public Service

Digital Public Service supports government’s digital transformation and focuses on how government can meet the needs of people using emerging technologies, data and changes to government culture, practices and processes. 

Contacts and locations

 

Digital Messaging and Systems

See: Spam prevention & messaging compliance

 

Document Authentication

When you need to use a New Zealand document in another country, you might be asked to get the document apostilled or authenticated. Some countries call this legalisation. An apostille or authentication is an official government certificate that proves the signature, stamp or seal on a document is genuine.

Contacts and locations

Dog Policy 

The Department of Internal Affairs administers national Dog Control laws. The laws are enforced by Local Councils.

Contacts and locations

Back to the Top

Ethnic Communities

The Office of Ethnic Communities is now the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, and no longer a part of the Department.

Contacts and locations

Back to the Top

Flag Hire

Visits and Ceremonial office hire flags of most countries of the world for indoor or outdoor events such as conferences, functions and parades in New Zealand.

Contacts and locations

Back to the Top

Gambling

The Gambling Group ensures gambling bodies comply with legislation and licensing regulations to help keep gambling fair and honest in New Zealand.

Contacts and locations

 

General Enquiries

See: General Enquiries

Back to the Top

Harbourmaster Service at Lake Taupō 

The Department of Internal Affairs is home to the Lake Taupō Harbourmaster.

Contacts and locations

Back to the Top

Inquiries Directorate

See: Public and Government Inquiries

Back to the Top

Lake Taupō Harbourmaster

See: Harbourmaster Service at Lake Taupō

 

Local Government Policy

Contact: Councils@dia.govt.nz
More information about Local Government Policy

Back to the Top

Marriages

See: Births, Death and Marriages

 

Media contacts

See our media contacts page - includes Internal Affairs news releases.

Back to the Top

National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa 

National Library of New Zealand contacts

National Library of New Zealand office locations

 

New Zealand Gazette

The official Government newspaper and authoritative journal of constitutional record.

Contacts and locations

Back to the Top

Official Information Act (OIA) requests

Make an Official Information Act request to the Department of Internal Affairs.

Back to the Top

Passports

Apply for a passport or check on the status of a current application.

Contacts and locations

If your enquiry relates to immigration visas, travel movements, or travel requirements please contact New Zealand Immigration: www.immigration.govt.nz/contact

If your enquiry is about travelling to New Zealand during the pandemic, see www.miq.govt.nz

Please be aware of planned outages to our online passport and citizenship by grant application services from January to March 2024. Visit our website for details on dates and times when you will be unable to apply online, along with more information about upcoming requirements to delete draft unsubmitted passport applications. 

 

Prevention of Online Harms

The Digital Safety Group at Department of Internal Affairs responds to violent extremist content and child sexual abuse material online.

Contacts and locations

 

Public and Government Inquiries

Contact: statutoryinquiries@dia.govt.nz
More information about Public and Government Inquiries

Back to the Top

RealMe

RealMe® is a government login service that allows you to access multiple online services with one username and password. You can securely prove who you are online with your RealMe verified identity.

Contacts and locations
Enquire online

 

Royal Commissions of Inquiry

See: Public and Government Inquiries

Back to the Top

Spam prevention & messaging compliance

Information to assist New Zealand businesses and the public to comply with the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007, the law that regulates ‘Spam’.

Contacts and locations

Back to the Top

The Translation Service, Te Pūtahi Whakawhiti Reo

The Translation Service provides professional translation and other language services including quality assessment, typesetting, transcription and cultural advice to businesses, central and local government and private individuals.

Contacts and locations 

Back to the Top

Violent Extremism

See: Prevention of Online Harms

 

Visits and Ceremonial Events

The Visits and Ceremonial Office (VCO) is responsible for the planning, administration and coordination of arrangements for visitors to New Zealand who have been accorded Guest of Government status by the Prime Minister.

Contact: VCO.info@dia.govt.nz
More information about Visits and Ceremonial Events

Back to the Top

Water Services Policy and Legislation

The Government has initiated a new direction for water services policy and legislation - Local Water Done Well.

Contact: waterservices@dia.govt.nz
More information about Water Services Policy and Legislation

Back to the Top

General Enquiries

Link above to our contacts and office location details, by service (in alphabetical order), for a quicker response.

If you cannot find the team you require:

Freephone: 0800 25 78 87 (New Zealand only)
Phone: +64 4 495 7200
Email: info@dia.govt.nz

The Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua office is located at:

Department of Internal Affairs
45 Pipitea Street
Wellington 6011
PO Box 805
Wellington 6140

 

Contact other New Zealand government agencies

For information on all New Zealand Government organisations and departments, you may visit New Zealand Government Online. This site provides links and information for all government, local government, crown agencies, health and education institutions.

List of New Zealand government agencies (Govt.nz website)

Back to the Top