Who to Notify When You Move House in NZ

There isn't one universal change-of-address service that updates every organisation for you — each one holds its own separate record. Here's who actually needs to know, roughly in order of urgency.

Before you move, or the moment you have a date

• NZ Post mail redirection — set this up ahead of your move date, not after. It doesn't apply retroactively, so anything sent to your old address before it starts still won't reach you.
• Insurance providers — if you're insuring a new home, confirm cover starts exactly on settlement or move-in day, not whenever you get around to calling.
• Power and broadband — these need a new connection arranged at your new address in advance, not a simple address update (see our guide on switching power and broadband).

In the first week

• Inland Revenue (IRD) — update via myIR so tax correspondence and any Working for Families payments reach you.
• Electoral Commission — you're required to update your enrolment details whenever you move; it only takes a minute online at vote.nz.
• NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) — update your driver licence address online.
• Work and Income — if you receive a benefit or NZ Super, tell them straight away, since it can affect your payments.
• StudyLink — if you have a student loan or allowance, update this at the same time.

Can wait a few weeks, but don't forget

• Bank and KiwiSaver provider — most banks let you update your address online through internet banking; don't forget accounts you use less often, like an old KiwiSaver scheme or a savings-only account.
• Employer or payroll — update your address if your employer holds it for payroll, HR, benefits, or employment records.
• Subscriptions and recurring deliveries — update anything regularly sent to your old address.
• GP and dentist — either transfer your records to a new practice near your new home, or update your existing practice if you're staying local.
• Your children's school — check the new school's zone and enrolment requirements rather than assuming proximity alone is enough.
• Childcare or kindy — good spots in popular areas can have waitlists, so it's worth starting early if you need one.

If you have pets

• Council dog registration — registration is with the council where your dog is ordinarily kept, so you'll need to register with your new council once you move, even if your dog is already registered elsewhere.
• NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) — update your pet's microchip details so they stay reachable if your pet gets lost.
• Your vet — ask them to transfer or provide records to a new practice near your new home.

Renters vs homeowners

If you're renting, most of this list is entirely on you — your landlord's own records (rates, property insurance) aren't something you need to touch. If you're buying or selling, your conveyancer's settlement paperwork normally handles notifying the council of a change of ownership automatically — worth confirming with them that it's actually been lodged, rather than assuming. Homeowners also need to update their home and contents insurer with the new property's details and sum insured, not just an address change.

Common mistakes

1. Assuming one update, like IRD, covers everything else — it doesn't; each organisation holds its own separate record.
2. Leaving mail redirection until after you've moved, by which point you've already missed anything sent in the meantime.
3. Forgetting accounts you rarely use, like an old KiwiSaver scheme or a savings-only account.

Final sweep

About a month after moving, it's worth a quick check for anything that slipped through — old statements or renewal notices still arriving at your previous address, a subscription confirmation email showing the old details, or a loyalty programme you forgot you had. Catching these now is easier than sorting out a bounced delivery or a missed renewal later.

This is a general checklist — not every item applies to every move. Work and Income and StudyLink, for example, only matter if you use those services.