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Requesting Your Personal Files

You have the right to see your records from time in care.
These records can help with making a claim, reconnecting with your history, or simply understanding what happened.​​​​

Who Can Request Their Files?

If you were in:

  • State care (e.g. CYF, Oranga Tamariki)

  • Faith-based care (e.g. church homes)

  • Psychiatric or education institutions

  • Youth justice residences

  • Health camps or religious schools

You can ask to see your records at any time, even if you’re not making a claim.

For those who were in Child Youth and Family or Department of Social Welfare care:

Oranga Tamariki - File Requests

 

Files can also be requested from the primary care institution you were in such as educational and psychiatric facilities, health camps or religious institutions. You can also request your information from other government agencies at any time. Examples of this may include ACC, Work and Income, Police, and Health

Resources to help you search:

Not everyone can remember when and where they were in care so there are some resources to help you get access to your care records

The Privacy Commissioner has a tool to ask for your personal information from any organisation, business or government agency in New Zealand. This lists the majority of the government agencies and the form will send an email on your behalf and you will then be sent a copy of your records.

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Note: Some information may be withheld to protect the privacy of other people, or for another reason permitted under the Privacy Act 2020. Other records may be destroyed, or unable to be found.

 

Other agencies that may have helpful information related to your files and claims:
 Ministry of Justice
For records held by New Zealand Courts

 

For coronial records about people who have died

 

For all other records held by the Ministry (which is likely to be very limited for personal records):

Official Correspondence
Ministry of Justice
SX10088
Wellington

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New Zealand Police
Advice on how to request information relevant to the Royal Commission from New Zealand Police, including links to online forms, is available from a special part of the Police website. 

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The Privacy Act enables you to request information about yourself. You do not have to be a citizen or permanent resident, or be in New Zealand to request it.  If you want to request information about someone else, you should request this under the Official Information Act.

 

Then deliver your completed request by hand or post to your nearest Police station, District Headquarters, or Police National Headquarters.​

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Youth Justice residences - Department of Corrections
Except for in exceptional circumstances, Corrections does not manage young people aged 17 or under. Information about Youth Justice Residences is available on the Oranga Tamariki website.  For historic cases, you can check with Oranga Tamariki first or contact the Department of Corrections.

Chief Privacy Officer
Private Box 1206
Wellington 6140

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