New Zealand Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Topic

Historical records

Legal area

Court

4 Oct 2021

RE BINT EX PARTE HILLS [2021] NZHC 2625

Citation

[2021] NZHC 2625
Court

High Court

Because the applicant demonstrated a proper reason (family history research), practical alternatives were limited by death of relevant family members, and the applicant agreed to confidentiality and non-publication conditions, the Judge was satisfied under r7(1) that good reason existed to permit access to digitised copies of the two 1926 divorce files subject to written undertakings and payment of any fees.
22 Feb 2021

Re THOMPSON EX PARTE HAYWARD [2021] NZHC 244

Citation

[2021] NZHC 244
Court

High Court

Access to the historical divorce file was granted because the applicant demonstrated a legitimate family history interest and there were no living parties with privacy interests requiring protection; access was permitted subject to a written undertaking not to publish or distribute contents and to keep the material confidential within the family.
26 Feb 2020

WALKER (ACCESS TO FILES) [2020] NZHC 280,

Citation

[2020] NZHC 280
Court

High Court

Access was granted because the applicant demonstrated good reasons under the Rules: the events were already publicly reported, the material is central to her family history and there are no surviving witnesses or family members to consult, and there was minimal risk of prejudice to living or vulnerable persons, satisfying the higher threshold for access to divorce files.