How to access  
individual coronial records
Once a coroner has completed a case, anyone can ask for copies of the coronial 
record. The coroner’s finding will always be released, but other information in the 
file may not be released.
Types of documents you can ask for
Will it cost anything?
The documents on a coronial file can include:
There may be some fees to copy documents. We will discuss any 
•  the coroner’s findings
fees with you first.
• witness 
statements
• expert 
reports
Coronial records for deaths before 1 July 2007
•  the post mortem report
•  a toxicology report 
Please be aware that records created before 1 July 2007 may not 
(this contains the results of any toxicology tests).
contain as much information as more recent records.
The Coroners Act 2006, the Official Information Act 1982 and the 
As such, a copy of the coroner’s finding might not give the answers 
Chief Coroner control the release of copies of coronial documents. 
you were after, and you may need to ask for copies of other 
Because these documents contain sensitive and personal information, 
documents or the whole file.
the Ministry of Justice may not be able to release all the information 
to you. If that is the case we will tell you what information we have 
withheld and why.
When coronial records are over 50 years old
Coronial records over 50 years old are held at Archives New Zealand. 
Where to send your request
To access these records, contact the Remote Reference Service:
Archives New Zealand, Head Office 
IF THE CORONER HAS FINISHED THEIR INVESTIGATION
10 Mulgrave Street | Thorndon | Wellington 
PO Box 12050 | Thorndon | Wellington 6011 
Fill out the ‘Request for access to individual coronial records’ 
[email address] 
form, available on our website. You can email it to us at 
T 04 499 5595 | F 04 495 6210 
[email address], or print it off and post it to:
archives.govt.nz
Operations Manager 
Coronial Services of New Zealand 
DX Box SX10044 
Coroner’s findings
Wellington
All findings are publicly available. If the finding is not available at 
INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT CASES
the Findings of Public Interest page on our website, you can ask the 
Operations Manager for a copy.
If the case is still open, contact the local Coronial Services office for 
information about the case’s progress. If you are unsure whether the 
case is closed, contact the Operations Manager.
How long will it take?
We aim to respond to your request as soon as possible and by no 
later than 20 working days after we receive it. If we can’t meet this 
timeframe, we will let you know as soon as we can and tell you why.
MORE INFORMATIONjustice.govt.nz/coroners „ [email address]
MOJ0054.2_MAY15

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