How to Get a New Zealand Birth Certificate

New Zealand Birth Certificate Information

New Zealand is in the South Pacific,1,200 miles from Australia. If you were born in New Zealand and need to obtain a copy of your birth certificate, you can complete the process in a few simple steps. Common uses of birth certificates are identification, when enrolling in school or applying for a driver's license or a job. New Zealand has three different versions of the birth certificate. Two come with pictures at the top and vital information below. The third has the information but no pictures. You may order a copy of the birth certificate online or by mail. If you are in New Zealand, you may choose to order your copy in person at the local Births, Deaths & Marriages office.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with access to the internet
• Mail supplies (if mailing)
• Personal information

Instructions

On-line

1. Complete the request form for a birth certificate, form BDM 93B, online with the Bureau of Births, Deaths, & Marriages of New Zealand by visiting their website at [e-mail]. The site has a link to the birth certificate order form. Here you will have to choose which type of birth certificate you would like. The pictorial options are representations of New Zealand's landscape. One picture is of a forest scene and the other a scene of a mother and baby on a beach. These are not photos of a particular place in New Zealand, only representations of the area. The pictorial versions of the birth certificate are a nice keepsake for baby, to be framed and hung in the home.

2. Have the request form signed by a trusted referee after completing. The trusted referee acts as a witness to the request and identification of the person who is applying for the birth certificate. A trusted referee must be at least 16 years of age. They can be a registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, a Commonwealth representative, a member of the police, a Justice of the Peace, a registered medical doctor or teacher, the applicant's employer or priest, a lawyer, or a notary public.
   A trusted referee is someone who has known the applicant for at least a year or has verified the applicant's identity with the proper identification. A trusted referee cannot be a relative, partner, or someone residing with the applicant.

3. Pay the fee for the type of birth certificate you would like to order. A pictorial birth certificate only costs NZ$26 in 2010 prices. A birth certificate package, containing one pictorial and one standard certificate for the same person, costs NZ$39, a savings of $13 The bureau accepts credit card payments online.

4. Submit the completed request, along with the fee, to the Bureau of Births, Deaths & Marriages of New Zealand. You may also be asked to submit proof of your identity with a photo ID.

By Mail

1. Obtain the request form for a New Zealand birth certificate online. Print the forms needed.

2. Complete the form and choose the type of certificate you would like. Sign the form and also have it signed by a trusted referee.

3. Submit the application, along with the fee, to the New Zealand Bureau of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Mail the application to PO Box 10-526, Wellington 6143, Level 3, Boulcott House, 47 Boulcott Street, Wellington 6011.

4. Wait for your birth certificate copies to be mailed to you. Your request will be completed in one to eight working days. Add additional time if certificate is being mailed to you.

Tips & Warnings

• You may also contact the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Contact Centre via email at [e-mail]. If you are in New Zealand, you may choose to stop by the office at the above address and make your request in person. The hours of operation are Monday-Thursday 8:00am - 7:00pm, Fridays 9:00am - 7:00pm, and Saturdays from 9:00am - 2:00pm.

References

• New Zealand Birth Certificate Information
• Births, Deaths, Marriages: Application and Contact Information
• Gen Find It: New Zealand