Petition request

That the House of Representatives amend the Citizenship Act 1977 to allow people whose parents were not New Zealand citizens by descent due to having been born out of wedlock to apply for citizenship under section 9(1)(b) of the Act.

Petition reason

In my view: ‘illegitimate’ children should not be treated differently to ‘legitimate’ ones; ‘wedlock’ is an antiquated term; the legislation needs to allow for people born out of wedlock to apply for New Zealand citizenship by descent if they can prove their lineage; and children of such ‘citizens by descent’ should be able to apply for citizenship under s 9(1)(b) of the Citizenship Act. I believe this would acknowledge their family history/whakapapa and connection with Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Petition progress

  • Open for signatures
  • Closed for signatures
  • Select Committee
  • Reported
  • Referred to Minister
Number of signatures: 190
Date presented: 24 Sep 2024
Considered by: Petitions
SC Report(s): 01 Aug 2025 (Final)
Presenting member: Ricardo Menéndez March
Closing date: 31 Mar 2024