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Definition of a New Zealand citizen and resident - Te tikanga hei kainoho o Aotearoa

Students who are New Zealand citizens or holders of a residence class visa are called 'domestic students' at Massey.

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New Zealand citizens

New Zealand citizen by birth

You're a New Zealand citizen by birth if you were born in New Zealand. Citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau who were born before 1 January 2006 are also New Zealand citizens.

If you were born after 1 January 2006 in New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau you only have New Zealand citizenship from birth if one or more of your parents:

  • is a New Zealand citizen, or
  • has residency (for example, has the right to be in New Zealand or Australia without a fixed end date), or
  • has the right to live without a fixed end date in the Cook Islands, Tokelau or Niue.

Other New Zealand citizens

You are a New Zealand citizen if you:

  • become a New Zealand citizen by naturalisation, registration or grant
  • were a British subject and resident in New Zealand throughout all of 1948
  • are a woman born outside of New Zealand who married a New Zealand citizen before 9 October 1946
  • are a woman born in the United Kingdom who married a New Zealand citizen before 1 January 1949.

You can also claim New Zealand citizenship by descent from either of your parents if you were born on or after 1 January 1970.

New Zealand residence class visa holders

If you are one of the following you have the right to residency.

Resident through formal application

You are a resident if you have been granted a New Zealand residence class visa through a formal application.

Australian citizens and residents

You are automatically considered to have a residence class visa if you are an Australian:

  • citizen
  • resident
  • permanent resident

and living in New Zealand.

United Kingdom citizens

United Kingdom (UK) citizens who arrived in New Zealand before 4 April 1974 are automatically considered to be holding a residence class visa.

All other UK citizens must meet New Zealand citizenship or residency criteria.

Refugee or protected person

You are a New Zealand resident if you are either of the following.

  • A person who has made a claim to be recognised as a refugee or a protected person in line with Part 5 of the Immigration Act 2009, and who is the holder of a valid temporary visa.
  • A person who has been recognised as a refugee or a protected person in line with Part 5 of the Immigration Act 2009, and whose application for residence is being processed.

Diplomats

You are a New Zealand resident for the current academic year if you meet any of the following:

  • you have a letter from the Protocol Division of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirming that for the first time you have the right to immunity from jurisdiction
  • you are under the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1968
  • you are under the Consular Privileges and Immunities Act 1971.

Your residency lasts until the end of the year in which your status runs out.