Section 7 — Citizenship Act 1977: Citizenship by descent

7 Citizenship by descent (1) Every person born outside New Zealand on or after 1 January 1978 is a New Zealand citizen by descent if, at the time of the person's birth,— (a) his or her mother or father was a New Zealand citizen otherwise than by descent; or (b) his or her mother or father was a New Zealand citizen by descent, and the person would otherwise be stateless. (2) A person who is a New Zealand citizen by virtue of subsection (1) may apply for his or her citizenship status to be registered in accordance with regulations made under this Act. (3) For the purposes of this section, the Secretary may issue a certificate stating a person's status under this section and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, a certificate to such effect signed by the Secretary, or by a person authorised for the purpose by the Secretary, shall be sufficient evidence of the matters stated in the certificate. (4) The citizenship of any New Zealand citizen by descent that has lapsed before the commencement of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2000 is reinstated with effect from the time it lapsed. Compare: 1948 No 15 s 7 Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 21 April 2005, by section 6 Citizenship Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 43). Subsection (2) was substituted, and subsection (3) was inserted, as from 18 November 1992, by section 5 Citizenship Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 104). Subsection (2) was amended, as from 8 April 2000, by section 3(1) Citizenship Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 9) by substituting the figure “ 4 ” for the figure “ 2 ” . Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 10 December 2001, by section 5 Citizenship Amendment Act (No 2) 2001 (2001 No 95). Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 18 November 1992, by section 5 Citizenship Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 104). Subsection (4) was inserted, as from 8 April 2000, by section 3(2) Citizenship Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 9).