You are going to have a lot of fun compiling this! (Or I know I would) What I am looking for is the frequency of New Zealand newborns in 2024 being given surnames from their mother, their father, etc etc. A complication with this is that a significant proportion of people change their surname upon marriage. I would want for a married couple (one man and one woman) that together take the man's surname to be listed differently to a married couple (one man and one woman) that together take the woman's surname. For this reason I am considering a parent's natural surname to be the one they held directly before their most recent marriage, if they are married. If you can think of a better way of defining this, feel free to alter the request - making clear in the response what has been changed. Define "married parents" as "married to each other". In CSV format, I would like the number of babies born in New Zealand in 2024: - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's natural surname only - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the mother's natural surname only - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the father's surname first - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the mother's surname first - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both the father's and mother's natural surname - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the father's natural surname and the mother's natural surname are the same (think Franklin/Eleanor Roosevelt) and where the baby was given this surname - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's first name as a surname - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname (this may be a new surname both parents took on after marriage) - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's natural surname only - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both parents' natural surnames - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's first name as a surname - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname (this may be a new surname both parents took on after marriage) - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's natural surname only - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the mother's natural surname only - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the father's surname first - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the mother's surname first - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both the father's and mother's natural surname - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the father's natural surname and the mother's natural surname are the same (think Franklin/Eleanor Roosevelt) and where the baby was given this surname - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's first name as a surname - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's natural surname only - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both parents' natural surnames - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's first name as a surname - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's natural surname only - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the mother's natural surname only - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the father's surname first - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the mother's surname first - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both the father's and mother's natural surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the father's natural surname and the mother's natural surname are the same (think Franklin/Eleanor Roosevelt) and where the baby was given this surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's first name as a surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's natural surname only - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both parents' natural surnames - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's first name as a surname - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - to one parent, where the baby was given the parent's natural surname - to one parent, where the baby was given the parent's first name as a surname - to one parent, where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - where the baby was given no surname - other? (hopefully this list includes every possibility!) I am fairly convinced that many of these will be under 10 cases in the year of 2024, in which case please mark that there are less than 10 cases of these occurring. If there is a combination I missed with a significant number of cases, you are free to add that to the data, but ideally I have covered virtually every child born in New Zealand in 2024. If it is going to be that it takes too long to find this data for 2024, you are free to do it for 2025 instead and report it once the year is over. This is the kind of data that I would like to be able to see for every year in order to track societal changes in the New Zealand population.
We are currently provided ample information on first names given to New Zealand-born children, but no information on the surnames they are given (apart from an occasional list of the most common surnames). I think this can leave parents unsure of the options they might have, or the acceptability or commonality of these options. We also do not know how this has changed over time.
Providing this data would give expecting parents a greater understanding of the frequency of various surname choices for their child, and may lead to a greater understanding of changes in gender attitudes throughout time (which is why I asked for answers broken down by gender of parents and father's/mother's surname)
Request received
29 September 2025 45 Pipitea Street, Wellington 6011 Phone +64 4 495 7200 dia.govt.nz data.govt.nz Tēnā koe OIA request 25/26 0257 Request for data for names Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request received by the Department of Internal Affairs (Department) on 1 September 2025. You requested – In CSV format, I would like the number of babies born in New Zealand in 2024: - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's natural surname only - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the mother's natural surname only - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the father's surname first - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the mother's surname first - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both the father's and mother's natural surname - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the father's natural surname and the mother's natural surname are the same (think Franklin/Eleanor Roosevelt) and where the baby was given this surname - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's first name as a surname - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to married parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname (this may be a new surname both parents took on after marriage) - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's natural surname only - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both parents' natural surnames - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's first name as a surname - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to married parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname (this may be a new surname both parents took on after marriage) - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's natural surname only - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the mother's natural surname only - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the father's surname first - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the mother's surname first - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both the father's and mother's natural surname - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the father's natural surname and the mother's natural surname are the same (think Franklin/Eleanor Roosevelt) and where the baby was given this surname - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's first name as a surname - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to parents with an unknown marital status (one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's natural surname only - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both parents' natural surnames - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's first name as a surname - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names - to two parents with an unknown marital status (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's natural surname only - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the mother's natural surname only - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the father's surname first - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between, with the mother's surname first - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both the father's and mother's natural surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the father's natural surname and the mother's natural surname are the same (think Franklin/Eleanor Roosevelt) and where the baby was given this surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given the father's first name as a surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to unmarried parents (one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's natural surname only - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given both parents' natural surnames, hyphenated or with a space between - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other combination of both parents' natural surnames - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given one parent's first name as a surname - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given some other existing family name or combination of existing family names as a surname - to unmarried parents (other than one man and one woman), where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - to one parent, where the baby was given the parent's natural surname - to one parent, where the baby was given the parent's first name as a surname - to one parent, where the baby was given an entirely separate name as a surname - where the baby was given no surname - other? (hopefully this list includes every possibility!) I am fairly convinced that many of these will be under 10 cases in the year of 2024, in which case please mark that there are less than 10 cases of these occurring. If there is a combination I missed with a significant number of cases, you are free to add that to the data, but ideally I have covered virtually every child born in New Zealand in 2024. If it is going to be that it takes too long to find this data for 2024, you are free to do it for 2025 instead and report it once the year is over. This is the kind of data that I would like to be able to see for every year in order to track societal changes in the New Zealand population. On 8 September 2025, you were advised that your request as it stood would be refused under 18(f) of the Act; that the information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research . This was due to the volume and complexity of the information sought that would require substantial effort and time to compile due to variables and splitting of text when comparing that to other fields in the birth registration forms. You were invited to rescope your request and to date no response has been received. Therefore, I must refuse your request under 18(f) of the Act; that the information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research. As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, the Department has decided to proactively release a copy of this response on the DIA website. All requestor data, including your name and contact details, will be removed prior to release. The released response will be made available here: https://www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-Act-Requests-2. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602. Ngā mihi John Crawford-Smith Principal Advisor Regulatory and Identity Services
3 Votes
Agency responded