[BkyMonster]

So now that our ITA is here I'm looking into getting some certified copies made.
My question is, what is an acceptable form for a certified copy for either NZIS or NZQA?
I've never had certified copies made of anything so I'm not sure if a photocopy signed by a lawyer (or notary public?) will be ok for NZQA/NZIS or if I have to send off for an actual second copy of the document (for birth certificates etc).

I have all the originals so it would be trivial to have copies signed or stamped and much more work to get official copies from the official record keeping bodies.

To make matters more confusing the USA and my state in particular has very specific rules for certified copies and only authorized replacement copies are really considered certified copies of vital documents.
(For instance in my state it is illegal for notaries to certify copies of birth certificates. I have to get a second copy if I need an official copy for anything. A huge price difference and probably a lot of time!)
However, I'm not so much concerned with what is legally acceptable here (since it isn't for here) and more what NZ official bodies deem acceptable.

What will NZIS and NZQA accept?

Share what you sent in please! What did your certified copies look like, where did you get them from, etc.

Thanks in advance!

[JayBee]

We had to have an assessment for NZQA. As we had the original documents and certificates we just sent in one set of original documents and one set of photocopies of the originals and this was satisfactory (same for the ITA to NZ House).

I think you only need "certified copies" if you are not sending in "originals"

Hope this helps and good luck!!

[napiers]

Anything we've needed to be certified has just been done by a lawyer. We haven't sent off for anything special. Like Jaybee I also think that you only need certified copies if you aren't sending originals - some places just ask for certified copies so you don't have to send originals.

[Ojai]

I just walked into a lawyer's office when I needed a certified copy of my passport. They just made a copy, stamped "certified copy" onto it, signed it and I was done. I was leery of this, but it worked just fine!

Plus no charge for them doing this. That surprised me as well.

[stephenandjulie]

The lawyer needs to see the original. From that he/she makes a photocopy and then stamps it "certified copy" and signs and dates it. Make sure that the stamp the solicitor uses has the solicitor's company's name and address on it.
Julie

[BkyMonster]

Thanks!
That sounds quite simple.

[BkyMonster]

Ugh.
None of the Lawyers around here will do this. They tell me it is illegal as they are not the custodians of the original documents and are seemingly very angry at me for asking. How ridiculous!
I don't understand what is so hard about making a copy and stamping true copy or what not on it.

Does anyone know if a notary public stamp and signature will do?

Sorry, bit of a rant. The one lawyer who said she would do it apparently takes 3 hour lunches and after waiting for a bit without her showing up we decided to find somewhere else...only to find that nowhere else wants to do it!
:(