History and regulations of New Zealand citizenship
Citizenship Act 1977
New Zealand Parliament
Long title
An Act to make better provision with respect to the status of New Zealand citizenship, and to consolidate and amend the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948
Citation
1977 No 61
Territorial extent
Realm of New Zealand (includes New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency)
Enacted by
38th New Zealand Parliament
Royal assent
1 December 1977[1]
Commenced
1 January 1978[2]
Administered by
Department of Internal Affairs[1]
Introduced by
Allan Highet, Minister of Internal Affairs[3]
Repeals
British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948 (1948 No 15)
Status: Amended
New Zealand nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of New Zealand. The primary law governing these requirements is the Citizenship Act 1977, which came into force on 1 January 1978. Regulations apply to the entire Realm of New Zealand, which includes the country of New Zealand itself, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency.
All persons born within the Realm before 2006 were automatically citizens at birth regardless of the nationalities of their parents. Individuals born in the Realm from that year on receive New Zealand citizenship at birth if at least one of their parents is a New Zealand citizen or otherwise entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely (meaning New Zealand and Australian permanent residents, as well as Australian citizens). Foreign nationals may be granted citizenship if they are permanent residents and live in any part of the Realm.
New Zealand was previously a colony of the British Empire and local residents were British subjects. Over time, the colony was granted more autonomy and gradually became independent from the United Kingdom. Although New Zealand citizens are no longer British, they continue to hold favoured status when residing in the UK; as Commonwealth citizens, New Zealanders are eligible to vote in UK elections and serve in public office there.
^ abCitizenship Act 1977.
^Citizenship Act 1977, s. 1(2).
^"Citizens and Aliens Bill". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 410. New Zealand Parliament. 16 June 1977. p. 553. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
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