TRACE e-Gov Portal

Title	Description
While you're pregnant	Choose a midwife and find out about paid parental leave, antenatal classes, health tests and parenting support.
Registering a new baby and getting a birth certificate	Every baby born in New Zealand must be registered, usually within 2 months of being born. It's free, and you can apply for the baby's birth certificate and IRD number at the same time.
Help paying for childcare	Depending on how much you earn and how old your children are, your family may be able to get help with the cost of childcare.
Leaving children home alone	It's illegal to leave your child at home alone if they're under 14. If you do leave them at home, you need to make sure they are safely supervised.
How to get married in NZ	A step-by-step guide to getting married or having a civil union in New Zealand.
Getting married overseas	If you’re getting married or having a civil union overseas, you usually don’t need to do anything in NZ beforehand — check with the country's officials if you need to do anything there.
Find a marriage celebrant	Only registered celebrants can perform weddings or civil unions in New Zealand. You need to arrange your celebrant before you can get a marriage licence.
Registry office weddings	You can get married by a Registrar of Marriages in a registry office.
Find a registry office	Contact details for registry offices across New Zealand.
Get a marriage licence	You need a marriage licence to get married or have a civil union in NZ. You need to arrange your licence at least 3 working days before you want to get married. It costs $150 if using a celebrant and $240 if getting married at a registry office.
Changing your name when you get married	In New Zealand, you don’t usually have to do anything special if you want to change your name after you get married or have a civil union.
Get a marriage certificate	Your New Zealand marriage or civil union certificate is an official record of your marriage. It costs $33 to get one sent to you.
Change a civil union to a marriage	You can change your civil union to a marriage (or your marriage to a civil union) without dissolving your current relationship. You need to complete a form and hold another marriage or civil union ceremony.
Submit a notice of objection to someone’s wedding	If you think there are legal reasons why a couple shouldn’t get married or have a civil union, you can lodge a caveat or notice of objection.
Information for marriage celebrants	Celebrants can legally perform marriages and/or civil unions in New Zealand. If you want to become a celebrant, you can choose to be independent or connected with an approved church or organisation. Once you're registered you need to renew your registration each year and keep your contact details up-to-date.
How to get divorced in NZ	A step by step guide to separating and getting divorced in NZ.
Separating from your spouse or partner	You don't have to do anything official when you separate from your partner, but a separation agreement or separation order can help to keep things clear.
Getting a divorce	After you've been separated for at least 2 years, you can apply for a divorce. The dissolution order costs $211.50.
Child custody	If your relationship ends, you need to try to resolve child custody arrangements yourselves before you can go to court.
Relationship counselling	Find a counsellor in your local area.
Child support	Child support is paid by parents who don't live with their children, or who share care of their children with someone else.
If you're having trouble getting pregnant	Some fertility treatments are funded for eligible people in NZ.
Donating sperm or eggs	You can donate sperm or eggs to someone you know, or you can contact a fertility clinic to apply to be a donor for someone you don't know.
Finding a child or parent on the sperm and egg donor list	Details of sperm and egg donors, and children conceived from sperm or egg donation are kept on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (HART) Register.
Adopting a baby	You can apply to adopt a baby in New Zealand as a couple or as an individual. The application process can take a year or more, and getting accepted doesn't necessarily mean you'll receive a baby.
Placing a child for adoption	Adoptive parents can parent your baby if you're not able to.
Whāngai	Whāngai is the Māori tradition of children being raised by someone other than their birth parents — usually a relative.
Finding your birth parents	If you were born in NZ and you're adopted, once you turn 20 you can request your original birth certificate, and any information about your adoption records held by Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children.
Finding your birth child	If you’ve placed a child for adoption, you can ask Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children for help finding them.
Fostering a child	Foster caregivers look after children in many ways, from short-term or emergency foster care, to long-term or permanent arrangements.
Help when you're raising children	You may be able to get financial help for your family, even if you’re working or looking after a child that's not your own.
How Working for Families Tax Credits are paid	Get help with the costs of raising children. Your payments are worked out based on the information you give IRD about your income for the year.
Youth benefits	Payments for young people aged 16 or 17 who can't live with their parents, and for young parents aged 16 to 19.
Financial help and benefits if you're over 65	If you've retired on a limited income, you may be able to get government help to pay for regular costs or unexpected expenses. You can use your SuperGold Card for transport and other discounts.
Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) for personal care and welfare	An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) for personal care and welfare gives someone you trust the power to make decisions about your health and welfare if you're unable to.
Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) for property	An EPA for property means that someone can look after your money and property if you become unable to because of an injury, illness or an age-related condition.
Get a congratulatory message	What you need to know You can get a congratulatory message for significant birthdays and wedding anniversaries.
Domestic or family violence	Services and support for anyone in an abusive relationship with a partner, ex-partner, family member, flatmate or friend.
Police safety orders	The Police can issue a safety order when they think someone is at risk of domestic violence. The Police don’t need the consent of the person at risk and the order can’t be appealed.
Protection orders	Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, psychological or financial — a protection order means an abuser can be arrested if they hurt, threaten or even approach you or your children.
Stalking and harassment	If you're being harassed by someone you're not in a relationship with, you can apply for a restraining order. Family violence services by regio
Family violence services by region	Contacts in your area for organisations that can help if you're dealing with family violence from the Family Services Directory.
Child abuse	If you're worried a child is being abused, please report your suspicions so authorities can investigate.
Bullying	Bullying is a form of aggressive or threatening behaviour — either at school, in the workplace or in the wider community.
Financial abuse	Financial abuse is when someone steals your money or property, fails to repay money you've lent them, or forces you to give them money or sell your property for their benefit.

New Zealand

Individuals and Families

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