New Kōnae website to access records

Hira Siddiqui from Citizens Advice Bureau Pakuranga/Eastern Manukau

The new Kōnae website konae.org.nz is a guide for anyone who wants to access records that were made about them or their whānau by state, faith-based or other organisations involved in decisions about their guardianship or care. Some people refer to these as care records or welfare files.

These records might be from times spent in places like children's homes, health camps, psychiatric hospitals or wards, boot camps, borstals or youth justice facilities, as well as adoption records, records from times spent with a foster family, or from state involvement in care arrangements with whānau or kin.

Kōnae does not hold any of these records but has information about the organisations that do, for around 800 locations. It provides clear steps and guidance on how to request records from those organisations, and an online form you can use for making your requests to them.

You have a legal right to your records. Visit konae.org.nz

If you or your whānau need support through this process, visit konae.org.nz/support or you can contact Citizens Advice Bureau NZ on freephone 0800 367 222, by visiting one of our 80 locations around Aotearoa (no appointment needed), or via our website at cab.org.nz