Name change
To have a name change for yourself or your child officially recognised, you need to register it with Births, Deaths and Marriages. This is done by making a Statutory Declaration (an officially signed and witnessed statement) on a Name Change form.
If the new name is accepted for registration, it is then recorded by Births, Deaths and Marriages.
If the person whose name is being changed birth is registered in New Zealand then any New Zealand Birth Certificate issued after the new name has been registered will show both the name registered at birth and all name changes for that person.
If the person whose name is being changed birth is registered outside New Zealand then any Name Change Certificate (relating to overseas-born people) issued after the new name has been registered will show all names and name changes for that person registered by Births, Deaths and Marriages on or after 25 January 2009.