U.S. Consulate General Auckland
Citigroup Centre, 3rd Floor,
23 Customs Street East
Auckland, New Zealand
Telephone: +(64) (9) 303-2724
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(64) (4) 462-6000
Fax: +(64) (9) 303-1069
Email: aucklandacs@state.gov

U.S. Embassy Wellington
29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon
Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +(64) (4) 462-6000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(64) (4) 462-6000
Fax: +(64) (4) 499-0490

Consular services to U.S. citizens are available only at the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland. Consular services are unavailable at the U.S. Embassy in Wellington even in case of emergency. Contact the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland for consular assistance.

U.S. Consulate General Auckland

• Document Authentication and Apostille Certification - New Zealand
• Differences between U.S. and New Zealand Law
• New Zealand Treaties and International Law

New Zealand is not a party to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters.  See New Zealand’s response to the 2008 Hague Conference questionnaire on the practical operation of the Service Convention.  Service of process can be accomplished in New Zealand by international registered mail, return receipt requested, via personal service by a process server or attorney in New Zealand and pursuant to letters rogatory. Consult local legal counsel in New Zealand for specific guidance on New Zealand requirements.

Service on a Foreign State:  See also our Service Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) feature and FSIA Checklist for questions about service on a foreign state, agency or instrumentality.

Service of Documents from New Zealand in the United States:  See information about service in the United States on the U.S. Central Authority for the Service Convention page of the Hague Conference on Private International Law Service Convention site.  That Office also receives requests for service of process from countries not parties to the Hague Service Convention.

U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance.

Defense Requests in Criminal Matters:  Criminal defendants or their defense counsel seeking judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters may do so via the letters rogatory process.

New Zealand is not a party to the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters.  See also New Zealand’s response to the 2008 Hague Conference questionnaire on the practical operation of the Hague Evidence Convention.  

Requests from New Zealand to Obtain Evidence in the United States:  Parties seeking to obtain evidence from willing witnesses in the United States may wish to consult with local counsel.  Formal requests from New Zealand may also be submitted via diplomatic channels to the U.S. Department of State, attn: Judicial Assistance Officer, U.S. Department of State, Office of Legal Affairs, (L/CA/POG/GC), 2201 C Street, NW, SA-17, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20522-1710.

Voluntary depositions may be conducted in New Zealand regardless of the nationality of the witness, provided no compulsion is used. Oral depositions or depositions on written questions may be taken by U.S. consular officers or by private attorneys from the U.S. or New Zealand at the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland or at another location such as a hotel or office, either on notice or pursuant to a commission. If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. embassy directly.

New Zealand is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents.  New Zealand’s competent authority for the Hague Apostille Conventionwill authenticate New Zealand public documents with Apostilles.  For information about authenticating U.S. public documents for use in New Zealand, see the list of U.S. Competent Authorities.  To obtain an Apostille for a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, contact the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Vital Records Office.