As part of the application process for some programmes you may be required to complete a safety check under the Children's Act. Part of the requirements is to undergo a NZ Police vet and identity verification.
The requirements for the student safety check differ to the identification and certification requirements for University Admission.
In order to confirm the identity of the applicant, two original forms of ID must be sighted in person, one primary and one secondary, one of which must be photographic.
Note: ID types with a signature field must be signed (e.g. unsigned passports cannot be accepted). Expired documents cannot be accepted.
Primary identity documents
| Document type | Issuing agency |
|---|---|
| New Zealand passport (expired passports are not able to be accepted) | Department of Internal Affairs |
| Overseas passport (may include New Zealand immigration visa or permit issued by Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (Immigration New Zealand)) (expired passports are not able to be accepted) | Overseas authority |
| New Zealand emergency travel document | Department of Internal Affairs |
| New Zealand refugee travel document | Department of Internal Affairs |
| New Zealand certificate of identity (issued under the Passports Act 1992 to non-New Zealand citizens who cannot obtain a passport from their country of origin) | Department of Internal Affairs |
| New Zealand certificate of identity (issued under the Immigration Act 1987 to people who have refugee status) | Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (Immigration New Zealand) |
| New Zealand full birth certificate that is issued on or after 1 January 1998 and that carries a unique identification number | Department of Internal Affairs |
| New Zealand citizenship certificate | Department of Internal Affairs |
Secondary identity documents
| Document type | Issuing agency |
|---|---|
| New Zealand driver licence (front and back required if an identity referee is used) | NZ Transport Agency |
| Kiwi Access Card (formally known as 18+ card) | Hospitality New Zealand Incorporated |
| Community services card | Ministry of Social Development |
| SuperGold Card | Ministry of Social Development |
| Veteran SuperGold Card | Ministry of Social Development |
| New Zealand student photo identification card | New Zealand educational institution |
| New Zealand employee photo identification card | Employer |
| New Zealand electoral roll record | Electoral Enrolment Centre of New Zealand Post Limited |
| New Zealand issued utility bill, issued not more than 6 months earlier | |
| Steps to Freedom form | Department of Corrections |
Supporting name change documents
If the two identity documents have different names (e.g. a birth certificate contains the applicant's maiden name and a driver licence contains their married name) evidence of a name change must be sighted.
| Document type | Issuing agency |
|---|---|
| New Zealand birth certificate (issued for the purpose) | Department of Internal Affairs |
| Change of name by statutory declaration | Department of Internal Affairs |
| Change of name by deed poll | Department of Internal Affairs |
| New Zealand name change certificate | Department of Internal Affairs |
| New Zealand marriage certificate | Department of Internal Affairs |
| New Zealand civil union certificate | Department of Internal Affairs |
| New Zealand order dissolving marriage or civil union | Ministry of Justice |
| New Zealand order declaring marriage or civil union void | Ministry of Justice |
Note: Particulars of Marriage documents cannot be accepted.
What you need to do
Either
- Bring the original documents to the AskOtago Central Hub in the Information Services Building, or to one of our campuses, where Identity verification will be completed for you. If required, a copy may be taken and verified for University admission.
Or
- Have an identity referee verify the original document and a sign and date a photocopy.
Note: If you have an identity referee verify your documents you will also need to bring your original documents into the University at a later date to complete Identity Verification for a Working with Children check.
Appropriate identity referees
An identity referee must:
- be a University approved referee; and
- be at least 16 years of age; and
- not be related to or part of the applicant's extended family; and
- not be a partner or spouse of the applicant; and
- not live at the same address as the applicant.
What the identity referee needs to do
To verify an applicant's identity, the identity referee must:
- Sight the original versions of each identity document.
- Compare the photographic image with the person who has brought the documents to them to confirm they are the same person, or sight another form of photographic identification to confirm that the name on the documents relate to the person in front of them.
- If a photographic document, on the document copy:
- WRITE: I certify that this is a true likeness of [title and full name of the person] and that it is a true copy of the original document.
- Sign and date a copy of each document to verify that the documents produced by the applicant relate to that person.
- For other documents that do not include a photo:
- WRITE: I certify that this is a true copy of the original document.
- Sign and date a copy of each document to verify that the documents produced by the applicant relate to that person.
- Provide his or her name and contact details and details of how they are qualified as an identity referee (e.g. an official stamp stating their role).
Providing your documents
You can upload high quality scans or photos of all correctly certified documents to the upload field in the student safety check.
Please note: you will not be able to submit your student safety check or programme application until you have done this.