All definitions

New Zealand citizen

A person can be a New Zealand citizen by either:

  • birth
  • grant or
  • descent

For New Zealand citizenship, New Zealand includes the self-governing states of:

Citizenship is granted by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Note people born in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau may not automatically be New Zealand citizens. To be considered a New Zealand citizen from birth, a person born on or after 1 January 2006 must have:

  • been born in New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau, and
  • at least one parent who at the time of the person's birth was a New Zealand citizen or entitled to reside indefinitely in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau

Legislation

  • New Zealand citizenship Part 1 Citizenship Act 1977
  • New Zealand citizen (definition) section 4 Immigration Act 2009
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