Immigration Act 2009

  • not the latest version
133 How claim made
  • (1) A claim is made as soon as a person signifies his or her intention to seek recognition as a refugee or a protected person in New Zealand to a representative of the Department or to a constable.

    (2) Once a claim is made, the claimant must, on request by a representative of the Department, confirm the claim in writing in the prescribed manner.

    (3) A claimant must as soon as possible endeavour to provide to a refugee and protection officer all information relevant to his or her claim, including—

    • (a) a statement of the grounds for the claim seeking recognition as a refugee or a protected person; and

    • (b) a statement of any grounds for any other potential claim seeking recognition as a refugee or a protected person.

    (4) If a claimant is aware that any member of his or her immediate family who is in New Zealand is seeking recognition as a refugee or a protected person, the claimant must, as soon as possible after making a claim, inform a refugee and protection officer and, if possible, state whether the family member's claim is on different grounds.

    (5) A claimant must provide a refugee and protection officer with a current address in New Zealand to which communications relating to the claim may be sent and a current residential address, and must notify the officer in a timely manner of a change in either of those addresses. The officer may rely on the latest address to which communications may be sent for the purpose of communications under this Part.

    Compare: 1987 No 74 s 129G(1)–(4)