9 Dec 2005

Babies born in Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue lose automatic right to New Zealand citizenship

12:29 pm on 9 December 2005

Babies born in the Cook Islands, Tokelau or Niue, neither of whose parents are New Zealanders, will not be able to claim New Zealand citizenship from next month.

The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs requires at least one parent to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident for newborns to qualify for citizenship.

The law applies from New Year's Day onwards.