A new online service introduced by the Department of Internal Affairs makes it easier to order and pay for multiple birth and/or marriage certificates online.

The service is available at www.certificates.services.govt.nz.

Use of the service requires the user to provide full name and date details of the birth or marriage.

The user must then provide information about their own birth or marriage or civil union in New Zealand or their child's birth in New Zealand. This information is used by the department to check the identity of the user. The information is then entered into the Access Register, which records people who order certificates.

Delivery and a contact phone number and email address are required. Payment can be made by a credit or prezzy card.

Online orders cannot be completed if an apostille, authentication or legalisation is required.

The department says it plans to add death certificates to the service.