How can I hide my identity for safety reasons?

Yes, there are ways you can protect your identity if you fear for your own safety or your family’s safety. But first, you can go to Police for help. If you are a victim of family violence or in a relationship that makes you fearful about your own or anyone else's safety, seek help as soon as possible. You have the right to be safe. There’s information here on getting help for family violence.

• Help for family violence(external link) - New Zealand Police
• Domestic violence(external link) - Ministry of Justice
• Overview of domestic violence laws(external link) - Community Law
• Family violence(external link) - New Zealand Law Society
• Domestic or family violence(external link) - New Zealand Government
• New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse(external link)

Here are some ways to help hide your identity.

If you use a landline, ask your telephone company to install ‘Caller ID’ on your telephone and ask for an unlisted number. Each company will have a way of helping you identify who might be calling you.

• Vodafone(external link)
• Spark(external link)

Be very careful using social media. Avoid sharing personal information(external link) that might give away where you live and anything about you that you wish to keep private from the person who is a threat to you. 

If you have children in your care, you can let their school and doctor know that their personal information should not be shared with others without your consent.

Enrol on the unpublished electoral roll so your details are not searchable on the general electoral roll.

You can ask your local council to make your personal details confidential. If you have a protection order, you can ask the Registrar of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships(external link), the Registrar of the Motor Vehicles(external link) register and the Registrar General of Land(external link) to make your personal details confidential, as well as any other government agency that holds your details on a “public register”. If your request is declined, you can complain to the Privacy Commissioner.