Search New Zealand death index

Deaths included in this index are those that occurred at least 50 years ago or where the deceased's date of birth was at least 80 years ago. Each transcript will give you the following information:

• Full name
• Registration year
• Birth date or age at death (only provided if the birth date field is blank)
• Death year
• Registration number

You can order a printout or certificate from the New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages website. A printout is a scanned image of the original record. A certificate is an official document that will include registered information, however, it will contain less information than a printout.

These documents may provide additional information such as your ancestor’s cause and place of death, profession, parents’ names, burial and birth details, birthplace and duration in New Zealand, and spouse and progeny. For more information see the section below entitled Order printouts and certificates online.

Beginning in 1848, deaths were officially recorded in New Zealand.

Māori deaths were registered between 1913-1961, separate from the General register. However, some Māori events were recorded in the General system. Since enforcement was difficult, many Māori deaths were never registered.

The records are from the combined indexes of both the General and Māori registers.

It is important to note the first four digits of the registration refer to the year the event was registered rather than the year of event.

Post-1876 registrations will provide more information because more was required after the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1875 came into effect.

In New Zealand, the Registrar-General is responsible for registering all births, deaths, marriages, civil unions and name changes. The issuing of printouts and certificates provides access to this information.

Birth, death, marriage, civil union and name change printouts and certificates can be ordered by several means: fully online, by phone, face-to-face, or by post.

New Zealand registered historic birth, death and marriage data is available to search online at https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz, where associated printouts and certificates can be ordered for the following:

• Births that occurred at least 100 years ago
• Stillbirths that occurred at least 50 years ago
• Marriages that occurred at least 80 years ago
• Deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago or the deceased's date of birth was at least 80 years ago.

Non-historic printouts and certificates can be ordered online subject to using a Realme account (online evidence of identity). https://www.bdmonline.dia.govt.nz/NonHistoricRecords

For more information visit www.govt.nz

Crown Copyright © 2015 http://www.dia.govt.nz/Legal-Copyright-Index