Definition of a New Zealand citizen

The following describes the different categories of citizenship or permanent residence and the verified documents you need to supply (please refer to the _Verified copies_ section at the bottom of this page).

Citizenship

*New Zealand citizen by birth*

Document required: A verified copy of your birth certificate; place of birth stated as a place within New Zealand.

*New Zealand citizen by naturalisation, registration or grant*

Citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau born before 1 January 2006 are regarded as New Zealand citizens. From 1 January 2006, children born in New Zealand (or in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau) acquire New Zealand citizenship at birth only if at least one of their parents:

1. is a New Zealand citizen; or

1. has residency (i.e. is entitled to be in New Zealand or Australia indefinitely); or

1. is entitled to reside indefinitely in the Cook Islands, Tokelau or Niue.

Document required for Cook Islands: A verified copy of your birth certificate with place of birth stated as a place in the Cook Islands.

Document required for Niue: A verified copy of your birth certificate with place of birth stated as a place in Niue.

Document required for Tokelau: A verified copy of your birth certificate with place of birth stated as one of the three islands of Tokelau.

*Change of name*

If the name you are enrolling under is different from the one on your birth certificate or other documents you must attach a verified copy of the relevant document, for example, marriage certificate or deed poll declaration (for change of legal name only).

Verified copies

A verified copy is a copy of an original document that has been signed and dated (preferably with an official stamp) for authenticity by a person authorised in the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 as able to take declarations. This person could be a:

* Justice of the Peace

* Barrister or solicitor of the High Court

* Notary Public

* Court Registrar or Deputy Registrar

* Member of Parliament

* Land Transport Safety Authority, Public Trust, government department (including Internal Affairs and Inland Revenue) or local authority employee designated for the purpose of taking oaths and declarations.

When a student is in a remote community and is unable to access a person from the above list, a school principal, minister of religion or general practitioner is acceptable.

The signatory must identify their official designation on the front of each page of the copy preferably with an official stamp), sign and date the copy and write the following words (or words to the same effect):

_This is a true copy of an original document that I have sighted._

All subsequent pages of the verified copy must be initialled by the signatory.

As an alternative to attaching verified copies of your documents you can show the originals to a senior staff member at your host institution who can take a copy of your original documents and can sign and date the copy to show that the original documents have been sighted.

If you can't find the information you need, please use the contact form at the bottom of this page to send an inquiry to the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation.