Policy - Names to be displayed in a passport
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Tuwhiria te Tikanga
Policy - Names to be displayed in a passport
surname.
on.
Travel Documents > Passport Policy Links > Policy - Names to be displayed in a passport
aration.
New Zealand passports only display names that we have substantiated.
ame on their citizenship or descent registration (DRG) certificate, or
Acceptable titles
Passports can be issued displaying the following acceptable titles:
• Honourable (Hon)
be recorded in the passports system without apostrophes to ensure that
• Right Honourable (Rt Hon)
• titles bestowed by the Monarch
• Māori titles recognised by Treaty partners which are of mana and recognition in Māoridom
equivalent to those conferred by the Crown for life.
Title bestowed by the Monarch
Unless the title is shown in a previous passport, the application must be referred to a Passport's Operations Manager who will determine if the passport can be
issued displaying the title
Note: I f you are able to find the applicant listed on the Honours list of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website here https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-
programmes/new-ze
You can use this in your referral for approval, alone or with any other supporting evidence. On receipt of approval, upload the approval email into the KIWI
application as a supp document
Māori titles
Examples of titles that could be included (which are currently known to the Department to be of mana and status that are at least equivalent to Sir/Dame or to
a hereditary peerage are:
• Te Arikinui (for the Māori King or Queen)
• Ariki for the paramount chief of Tuwharetoa
• Tumuaki of the Kingitanga movement (recognised in the Ngāti Haua legislation)
We do not hold a definitive list of acceptable Māori titles, but to proceed on a case by case basis, and seek evidence where necessary from the applicant to
substantiate their claim to the title.
will automatically be cut in the book at the character limit, potentially
Evidence may include:
• Waitangi Tribunal or Treaty Settlement reports, legislation and documents which refer to the holder and previous holders of the title (e.g. as the Ngāti Haua
he observation page of the passport and linked in KEA.
settlement rep
• Letters from the organisations recognised by the government as being representative of iwi (e.g. the Post Settlement Governance Entity or recognised Treaty
cessing instructions.
negotiating b the Crown (e.g. Knighthood/Damehood) and recognised throughout their iwi and by other iwi.
• Historical and reference sources – e.g. the Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
• The Cabinet Office
• Media reports
Unless the title is shown in a previous passport, the application must be referred to a Passports' Operations Manager who will seek support from Pou Ārahi (if
required) and determine if the passport can be issued displaying the title.
Unacceptable titles
under the Official Information Act 1982
Passports may not be issued displaying the following unacceptable titles:
• service and military ranks
• Awards, Designations, Professional and Vocational titles, for example OBE, Dr, Rev, or
Nurse
• Pacific Island customary titles.
Note:
Unless the Pacific Island customary title is shown in a previous passport, the application must be referred to a Passport's Operations Manager who will
determine if the passport can be issued displaying the title.
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he title.
Foreign titles
Released
Foreign titles are not recognised for passport purposes in New Zealand.
aland-royal-honours/honours-lists-and-recipients/honours-lists
Exception:
rting document.
In some countries, a title is recorded as part of a person's name. If that person is granted New Zealand citizenship and the title appears on their citizenship
certificate, it can be re g form.
ge) are:
Evidence may include:
