From 1 January 2006, a child born in New Zealand will not automatically be considered a NZ citizen if the parent/s are not NZ citizens.
More information on this change is available on Department of Internal Affairs website.
If a child, born in NZ, is not eligible for NZ citizenship at birth, they are deemed to hold a visa if either parent holds a visa when the child is born.
The exact type of visa that a child born in NZ is deemed to hold depends on the visas held by the child's parents when the child was born.
If your child is ineligible for NZ citizenship at birth it is recommended that you ask Immigration New Zealand for a statement of your child’s immigration status to confirm the type and duration of your child's visa.
To do this, you will need to complete a Request for statement of immigration status of child born in New Zealand on or after 1 January 2006 (form NZIS 1137) and provide your child's original birth certificate and evidence of your immigration status at the time of his/her birth.
You should send the completed form and documents by secure mail or visit the nearest Immigration New Zealand branch to lodge the request. There is currently no fee for this process.
If you lodge an application for a temporary or residence visa in the future, you must include your child in that application.
This answer was last updated on 16 May, 2013.
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