As Monday 27 January 2025 is Auckland Anniversary Day, the following court locations will be closed (including High Courts and National Office functions):
Kaitāia, Kaikohe, Whangārei, North Shore, Waitākere, Auckland, Manukau, Papakura, Pukekohe, Huntly, Hamilton, Morrinsville, Tokoroa, Te Awamutu, Te Kūiti, Thames, Waihi, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki, Rotorua, Taupō, Taumarunui, Ruatōria, Gisborne and Auckland Specialist Courts and Tribunals Centre (this includes the Northern Tribunals Unit, as well as the Auckland office for the Environment and Employment Courts). Any questions, call our Contact Centre.
Sometimes when you apply to travel to or live in another country you might be asked for a police clearance certificate. This can also be called a police record, police file, police check, penal check or criminal check.
These are the same as your criminal record (or criminal conviction history). There is no such document as a police clearance certificate in New Zealand.
Organisations providing services to vulnerable people (this includes children, older people and people with special needs) can ask the New Zealand Police to vet(external link) (check) people who want to work or volunteer for them.
The difference between a Ministry of Justice criminal record check and police vetting(external link) is that the criminal record check only covers convictions. As well as your criminal record, police vetting can also include information on any contact you’ve had with the police.
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