Who to Notify When You Move House in NZ

There isn't one universal change-of-address service that updates every organisation for you. Here's who actually needs to know, and roughly how to tell them.

Government and official records

• 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.

Everyday accounts

• NZ Post -- set up mail redirection so anything sent to your old address still reaches you, especially useful for the first few weeks.
• 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.
• Insurance providers -- to update your address, and if you're insuring a new home, to confirm cover starts on the right day.
• Power, gas, and broadband -- these generally need a new connection at your new address rather than a simple address update.
• 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.

Health and family

• 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 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.

If you're buying or selling

• Your local council -- for a property sale, this is normally handled automatically through your conveyancer's settlement paperwork, not something you file yourself -- worth confirming with them that it's been lodged.

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.

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.