New Zealand nationality law details the conditions by which a person may hold New Zealand nationality. Regulations apply to the Realm of New Zealand, which consists of the country of New Zealand itself, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency. All persons born in the Realm before 2006 were automatically citizens at birth regardless of the nationalities of their parents. Since that year, individuals born in the Realm only receive citizenship at birth if at least one parent is already a citizen or entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely (meaning permanent residents of New Zealand or of Australia, and citizens of Australia). Foreigners living in the Realm may be granted citizenship after becoming permanent residents. New Zealand is a former British colony and its residents were previously British subjects. While New Zealanders are no longer British, they continue to hold favoured status when living in the United Kingdom; they are eligible to vote in British elections and serve in public office there. (Full article...)