Status of Children Act 1969

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Ministry of Justice

Version as at 28 October 2021

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Status of Children Act 1969

Public Act
 
1969 No 18
Date of assent
 
22 August 1969
Commencement
 
see section 1(2)
Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Justice.

Contents

Title [Repealed]
1Short Title and commencement
2Interpretation
Part 1
Status of children generally
Children of equal status whether or not parents are or have been married to each other
2APurpose of sections 3 and 4
3All children of equal status
Prior instruments and intestacies
4Instruments executed and intestacies which take place before the commencement of this Act
Presumptions as to parenthood
5Presumptions as to parenthood
Grant of letters of administration and distribution of estates and property held upon trust
5AGrant of letters of administration
6Reasonable inquiries to precede distribution
6AReasonable inquiries that comply
6BProtection of executors, administrators, and trustees
6CWarning notices
6DService of warning notices
Paternity
7Recognition of paternity
8Evidence and proof of paternity
9Instruments of acknowledgment may be filed with Registrar-General
10Declaration as to paternity
Miscellaneous provisions
11Regulations
12Repeals and consequential amendments
Part 2
Status of children conceived as result of AHR procedures
Preliminary provisions
13Purpose of this Part
14Interpretation
15AHR procedure defined
16Application of Part
Rule about maternity
17Woman who becomes pregnant is mother even though ovum is donated by another woman
Rule about when non-donor partner is parent
18When woman’s non-donor partner is parent, and non-partner semen donor or ovum donor is not parent
Rules about donors of genetic material
19Partnered woman: ovum donor not parent unless mother’s partner at time of conception
20Woman acting alone: non-partner ovum donor not parent unless later becomes mother’s partner
21Partnered woman: non-partner semen donor not parent
22Woman acting alone: non-partner semen donor not parent unless later becomes mother’s partner
Rights and liabilities if non-partner donor later becomes mother’s partner
23Non-partner ovum donor
24Non-partner semen donor
25Only first non-partner donor to later become mother’s partner becomes parent
Miscellaneous provisions
26Conflicting evidence of paternity
27Partner’s consent is presumed
Schedule
Enactments amended
Notes
Title [Repealed]