The New Zealand Police provides a vetting service for approved organisations.

Do you want a "clearance certificate"?

If you want a "police clearance certificate" you should ask for your own Criminal Record from the Ministry of Justice. Your own Criminal Record is like a "clearance certificate" that other countries have. New Zealand Police does not give "clearance certificates", but the Ministry of Justice does give Criminal Records.

How to request a copy of your own criminal record.

For information on how to access other peoples criminal record contact the Ministry of Justice Privacy Unit, telephone 64-4-918 8800 or fax 64-4-918 8820 or by writing to: Ministry of Justice Privacy Unit, PO Box 2750, Wellington.

Vetting for approved organisations

Police carry out vetting only for approved organisations that are responsible for providing care to children, older people and more vulnerable members of society.

Vetting is subject to the Privacy Act 1993 and the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004.

Organisations wanting to be approved as users of the Police Vetting service should apply in writing to:

It is the responsibility of the requesting organisation to maintain the security of the information provided.

See also: Vetting procedure guidelines.

Further Information

You can contact the Licensing and Vetting Service by email, or phone 64-4-474 8879 (staffed 24 hours).

Clean slate legislation

The Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act is designed to allow individuals with less serious convictions, who have been conviction-free for 7 years, to put their past behind them. Once an individual meets the eligibility criteria set out in section 7, they automatically become an "eligible individual." The person is deemed to have no criminal record for the purposes of any question asked of them - they may respond by saying that they have no convictions.

See also: www.justice.govt.nz/privacy/clean-slate.html