Hon Dr Richard Worth
Minister of Internal Affairs

24 February 2008 Media Release

Online access to historical NZ birth, death and marriage records

A website which provides online access to New Zealand’s historical birth, death and marriage records was today launched by the Minister of Internal Affairs Richard Worth.

The website, developed by the Department of Internal Affairs, will be useful to genealogists and people who would like historical birth, death and marriage information about their relatives, said Dr Worth.

“I’m pleased to launch the site as part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to making more public information available online, whilst balancing the protection of people’s privacy and reducing opportunities for fraud,” he said.

The Births Death and Marriage Historical Records website, at www.bdmhistoricalrecords.identityservices.govt.nz/, provides access to information about:
• Births that occurred at least 100 years ago
• Stillbirths that occurred at least 50 years ago
• Marriages and eventually Civil Unions that occurred 80 years ago
• Deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago or the deceased's date of birth was at least 80 years ago.

The new website can also be accessed from the Department of Internal Affairs website at www.dia.govt.nz
To use the site, people enter a family name and a ‘search from date’ or a registration number into the search box. They can then order a certificate or a print out from a list of search results and pay by credit card.
The historic data available is limited so that information relating to people who might still be alive can be protected.

Since 25 January this year, people wanting access to more recent birth, death, marriage, civil union or name change records need to show evidence of their identity and apply by post, fax or in person at BDM offices in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Manukau.

When applying for a certificate or related products for more recent records, people need to sign a written statement saying the information they are providing is true and correct. The statement must also be signed by a person of standing in the community.

This new requirement maintains public access to registers while also providing better safeguards for people’s personal information.

Q&As attached.

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Questions and answers:

Birth, Death and Marriage Historical Website

What records can I access using the new website?
• Births (excluding stillbirths) that occurred at least 100 years ago
• Stillbirths that occurred at least 50 years ago
• Marriages and eventually Civil Unions that occurred 80 years ago
• Deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago or the deceased's date of birth was at least 80 years ago.

1. Why can’t I order more recent records?
The historic data available for you to search is limited so that information relating to people who might still be alive can be protected, eg if you live to 100 years old, your information won’t become available online until you are 100.
It’s about the balance between providing access to records while protecting privacy and reducing the opportunity for fraud. To access more recent records, people need proof of their identity, signed by a person standing in the community. Access requests are recorded in a register.

2. Can I search for records of people born overseas but who live/lived in New Zealand?
The records contain information only about people who were born, married or who died in New Zealand.

3. Why can’t I search for Civil Union information?
Civil Unions came into force in April 2005. This information is not 80 years or older so cannot be made available online.

4. What do I see on-screen? Do I see a copy of the exact birth, death or marriage record?
After you’ve entered a family name and a ‘search from’ date or a registration number into the website’s search box, your search should return a list of names. You can then order a certificate or a print out that relates to one or more of those names.

5. How much does it cost?

Costs for historical information are the same as those for more recent records.

Products
Cost $NZ
Description

Online Search nil Performing a search activity
Printout - post 1874 20.00 Copy of the image of the registration usually used for research purposes
Printout - pre 1875 26.00 Copy of the image of the registration usually used for research purposes
Standard Certificate 26.00 Legal official document
Decorative Certificate 26.00 Legal official document
Decorative certificate plus a standard certificate of the same registration 39.00 Legal official documents

You can pay online by credit card.

6. How long do I have to wait?

It will take up to eight working days to issue your order. You must also allow time for postage.

7. Why did the Department of Internal Affairs put birth, death and marriage historical records online?

The Government has an ongoing commitment to making more public information available online. The site will be useful to genealogists and people who want historical birth, death and marriage information about their relatives.

ENDS

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