If a person’s name is recorded incorrectly in the register, or has changed, they can apply to correct or change it under regulation 17(1)(a) or 17(3) of the Land Transfer Regulations 2018.
Correcting a name
An application to correct the name of a registered owner is used to amend an error in the name. Applications are typically made to:
- correct a spelling error (e.g. Ann to Anne or Stephen to Steven)
- correct the order of the names (e.g. surname recorded as the first name), or
- add a missing middle name.
See the Landonline support section below for further guidance about how to prepare a correction of name instrument to ensure the correct memorial is recorded on the historic view of the title.
Where LINZ has made an error recording a person’s name in the register there is no need to lodge a correction of name. Instead, you should lodge a Landonline request to have the error corrected using the 'Title Correction' request type.
Changing a name
An application to change the name of a registered owner is used where a person’s name has changed and they want their new name to be recorded in the register.
Applications are typically made when a person’s name has changed:
- by marriage or civil union
- following a divorce
- by deed poll or statutory declaration
- by resolution under the Companies Act 1993, or
- by resolution under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 or name change under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.
Evidentiary requirements
An application to correct or change a name must be supported by:
- an A&I form signed by the applicant
- a document or documents that evidence the grounds for the application – see below for further detail
- a document confirming the client’s connection to the property or a file note confirming the practitioner’s knowledge of this – see paragraph 15 of the Authority and Identity Requirements for E-Dealing Guideline 2024, and
- where necessary, a file note documenting the steps taken to independently confirm the identity of the client – see paragraph 17 of the Authority and Identity Requirements for E-Dealing Guideline 2024.
Authority and Identity Requirements for E-Dealing Guideline 2024
Documents to support a correction of name
Documents that are typically used to support a correction of name include:
| Situation | Documents |
|---|---|
| Practitioner has personal knowledge of how their client’s name came to be recorded incorrectly in the register having certified the original instrument | A statutory declaration by the certifying practitioner:
|
| Practitioner does not have personal knowledge of how their client’s name came to be recorded incorrectly in the register having not certified the original instrument | A statutory declaration by the applicant:
A sample statutory declaration template can be found in schedule 3 of the Applications to Correct or Change Names in the Register Guideline 2018. |
Documents to support a change of name
Documents that are typically used to support a name change are:
| Situation | Documents |
|---|---|
| Marriage or civil union | A certified copy of the Marriage or Civil Union Certificate |
| Reverting to former name before marriage or civil union | A certified copy of the Marriage or Civil Union Certificate or Dissolution Order |
| Deed poll before 1 September 1995 | A certified copy of the Deed Poll |
| Name change from 1 September 1995 to 24 January 2009 | A certified copy of the Change of Name by Statutory Declaration |
| Name change after 24 January 2009 (for those born in NZ) | A certified copy of the NZ Birth Certificate showing the new name and all previously registered names |
| Name change from 24 January 2009 (for those born outside NZ or whose birth was not registered in NZ) | A certified copy of the NZ Name Change Certificate |
| Company name change | A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation evidencing the name change |
| Incorporated society name change | A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation evidencing the name change |
Landonline support
Our Landonline dealings support guidance can help you prepare a change or correction of name instrument in title mode or instrument mode.
Prepare a change or correction of name
When preparing a change/correction of name instrument, Landonline defaults to Change of Name.
If the situation requires it, change the default toggle to Correction of Name. This ensures the memorial on the historic view of the record of title accurately reflects that the name was corrected.
Select the correction of name toggle
When a change or correction of name may not be necessary
A registered owner may choose not to change or correct their name in order to deal with their land if:
- they are transferring their land or discharging their estate or interest, where their name will be removed from the record of title, or
- the error in the name is a minor typographical error.
In these cases, the practitioner must still hold evidence reconciling any discrepancy between the name on the record of title and the person’s identity documents, and retain this together with the A&I form.
If the owner is remaining on the record of title their name should be corrected or changed as relevant.
When not to use a change or correction of name
Do not use a change/correction of name instrument to:
- change the ownership of a property – instead a transfer or other relevant instrument must be used, or
- register a statutory vesting of land following a change of a corporate body’s identity – instead a transmission or other relevant instrument must be used.
If a practitioner error has resulted in the wrong person being recorded as the owner of a property, this may need to be corrected by lodging a subsequent dealing or by an alteration to the register under section 21(2)(a) or (b) of the Land Transfer Act 2017. If you are unsure how to proceed you should lodge a request to correct the error.
You can read more about these processes in our Alterations to the Register Guideline.
Alterations to the Register Guideline 2024
Caveats and notices of claims
A caveator or claimant cannot change or correct their name in the register under regulation 17 of the Land Transfer Regulations 2018. Instead, when a caveator or claimant consents to a dealing or withdraws a caveat or notice of claim, the practitioner should hold evidence reconciling any name discrepancy and retain this with the consent or A&I form.
Māori land
An order made by the Māori Land Court is necessary in order to change or correct names on records of title for Māori freehold land.