Individual case files

You might be able to request information from individual coronial case files.

On this page:

All findings are publicly available:

How to request information

Cases the coroner is still investigating

If a case is still being investigated by the coroner, contact the Regional Office responsible for the case.

If you don’t know if the case is active or which office is responsible:

If the death has occurred within the past 72 hours, contact the National Initial Investigations Office (NIIO) :

  • Calling within New Zealand 0800 266 800
  • Calling outside of New Zealand +64 4910 4482

Find out more about what information you can request

Closed cases – deaths that happened more than 50 years ago

Coronial case files that are older than 50 years are held at Archives New Zealand.

Or contact Archives New Zealand at research.archives@dia.govt.nz or 04 499 5595.

Closed cases – deaths that happened less than 50 years ago

If a coroner has finished their investigation and the case has been closed, you should check what information you can request and the forms you need to use.

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What information you can request

Due to the personal and sensitive nature of information in a coronial case file, we may not be able to give you all the information you’re requesting.

The following people can ask for information held in coronial case files:

  • immediate family of the person who died
  • any member of the public
  • media
  • researchers & government agencies.

Family

The immediate family of the person who died can ask for information such as medical reports, patient notes, the post-mortem report, toxicology report, suicide notes, and photos. The family member is also entitled to request copies of the coroner's findings, witness statements and other investigation reports.

Public

Members of the public who aren’t immediate family of the person who died can ask for coroner’s findings, witness statements,and other investigation reports.

Media

If you want information about a coronial case, please contact the Media Team.(external link)

Researchers and government agencies

Researchers and government agencies may be able to use the Australasian National Coroners Information System (NCIS). The NCIS is an online data storage and retrieval system for coronial cases since 1 July 2007.

If you can’t find the information on the NCIS or the data is from before 1 July 2007, complete the relevant form below and email to Coronial.Information@justice.govt.nz

Researchers can use the following form to request information from Coronial Information IRF-2 Request for coronial information [PDF, 146 KB]

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Timeframes & costs

We aim to respond to your request as soon as possible and no later than 20 working days after we receive it. If we can’t meet this timeframe, we’ll let you know as soon as we can and tell you why.

There may be some fees to copy documents. We will discuss any fees with you first.

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Popular forms

Coronial services forms

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