FAQs

Yes, this is a common service used for due diligence or legal requirements before serving documents.

Yes, we conduct impartial and meticulously documented interviews to gather reliable statements that can be used for legal proceedings.

While we are not qualified to provide formal training, we can offer practical tips and general advice to help you stay safe, and we can connect you with qualified providers if needed.

Our aim is to complete a thorough sweep so that ongoing checks are not usually required. However, we understand new risks can arise. If they do, we can return to re-sweep or examine any concerns promptly.

We take your privacy extremely seriously. All our personal safety advice is delivered confidentially and tailored to your specific needs.

Yes. We have access to the resources required to carry out this type of investigation.

Yes. We maintain relationships with trusted security companies that can provide physical protection or more general security services if required.

Monitoring without consent is illegal. Our first recommendation is to speak with the Police. If you don’t receive a sufficient response, we can assist by conducting our own investigation.

Yes. We have experience with systems that are proven to work and can recommend effective solutions that have delivered good results for our clients in the past.

We recommend contacting us as soon as you have concerns that you are been stalked or harassed. We’ll discuss your situation in detail and design an approach that is tailored to your specific needs, and if appropriate, recommend filing a report with the police.

Yes, we can then offer a Trace & Serve package to locate and serve the registered owner.

Tracing is simply about finding people! This can be for a variety of reasons, such as to enable service of documents to begin recovering funds owed to you, locating beneficiaries of an estate, reconnecting you with estranged family members, finding persons for sports reunions or even finding old flames.

Yes. We can conduct background checks that provide useful information about a prospective employee or partner, potentially saving you headaches before issues arise.

We’ll generally turn this around in 7-10 working days, however can accommodate any time restraints you may have.

We use a variety of sources available to us and will pursue all links known to the person, you’ll receive our findings in a written report upon completion.

Background checks are commons with parents concerned about their child’s new partner, persons/companies looking to assess whether to pursue an individual personally and gain an understanding of their asset position, pre-employment, are a few.

They can overlap to an extent. Traces are generally designed to find people for a variety of reasons. Background checks are useful for ascertaining as much information about an individual for a variety of reasons.

This depends on the circumstances. In cases involving estranged family members or past relationships, the answer is usually no—we respect the wishes of the person traced. However, we will explain the situation to you clearly and may pursue follow-up enquiries with the traced individual to provide you with some answers where appropriate. We adopt a ‘case by case’ approach with this as the matters are often very delicate.

We will assess this with you when you engage us. You’ll need to confirm whether a protection order exists to ensure we are not enabling any breaches of the law. What you choose to declare is taken seriously—if a breach occurs, criminal responsibility rests with you.

Absolutely. Once we’ve located the individual, we can advise you of the address and provide a clear outline of the fees for personal service.

Absolutely. Once we’ve located the individual, we can advise you of the address and provide a clear outline of the fees for personal service.

Unfortunately, no. What we do guarantee is outstanding service, effort, and energy in the process of attempting service.

With substituted service, the process can still move forward. Of course, we do everything possible to serve the person directly, but deliberate avoidance can happen.

Absolutely. Our reports will provide the supporting information needed to give your lawyer the best chance of securing a substituted service order through the Court.

This can occur from time to time, despite our best efforts. If it does, our reports and supporting commentary will provide you with the necessary information to make a decision on tracing the individual or considering an application for substituted service.

Definitely. We know there can be significant emotional investment in these matters, so we make sure to keep you up to date.

No, that’s what we’re here for. Once service is completed, we can update you by call, text, or email—whichever you prefer. There is no need for you to be present.

Absolutely. That’s exactly what tracing is, and our expert team has a proven record of success in locating people for service.

Not always. If you have a phone number or email, we will attempt to engage and encourage the person to meet us for service. However, a physical address naturally provides a much better opportunity for service. If you don’t know their current address and can’t locate it, we offer a “trace and serve” process, where we first trace the individual and then organise service of the documents.

A name, an address, and the documents to be served are enough for us to get started. However, we encourage you to provide as much detail as possible about the recipient (and ideally a photo), as this greatly increases the chances of locating and serving them quickly.

Absolutely. Photographs, videos, and other relevant material are included in our reporting.

That depends on what you’re trying to achieve. In some cases, one stint of surveillance is enough. In others, particularly where a consistent pattern of behaviour needs to be proven, surveillance may need to be conducted over a longer period.

This depends on the circumstances. Often, a single investigator is sufficient. However, in more complex situations we may involve a team of two, three, or even four investigators to achieve the best outcome.

Years of training allow us to blend into the environment and avoid detection. We also have tools and resources that enable us to conduct surveillance remotely if needed.

Yes. Each case has legal considerations that we’ll discuss with you, as these may affect what methods are appropriate. We have the resources and capacity to carry out both physical and electronic surveillance.

Yes, it is. All our surveillance operations are conducted in compliance with New Zealand law.

Surveillance involves observing and documenting the movements of a person (or people) to establish their activities, actions, and behaviours in relation to a specific concern you may have.

Absolutely. You’ll receive a verified Ministry of Justice certificate that can be used for official purposes.

The person being checked will be notified, since they are required to provide consent. However, your copy of the results remains confidential to you.

Our standard criminal history checks cost $65 + GST. We’ll begin the process as soon as payment is received.

Please see our criminal history page for full details. At a minimum, you’ll need the individual’s consent, along with their name, address, date of birth, and a few other identifying details.

Yes, they will already know, because their consent is required before we can proceed.

In some cases, yes. We are connected with investigators all over the world and can make enquiries with certain countries if you believe there may be relevant information in someone’s overseas background.

Yes, but keep in mind they only cover offences that haven’t yet resulted in a conviction (e.g. active cases before the Courts).

No, you can’t. Consent is required.

We have an agreement with the Ministry of Justice that allows us (with an individual’s consent) to obtain their criminal history. This can be incredibly useful before entering into a business or employment relationship with someone you don’t know well.

Yes, we charge a fixed fee for a standard vehicle registration check.

Typically, the results are returned within one business day of receiving your compliant request.

Pricing is based on the location of the visit and the time required. We provide a fixed fee quote for the requested area.

We aim to deploy an agent for a field visit within 24-48 hours of receiving instructions, depending on the location and urgency.

Our standard criminal history checks cost $65 + GST. We’ll begin the process as soon as payment is received.

Each investigation is different. If you contact us directly, we’ll give you guidance on what your investigation may involve, along with an estimate of costs based on your goals and intentions.

No, the information must only be used for the lawful purpose stated on your application. Misuse may be illegal.

Yes, when conducted by a licensed investigator for lawful purposes, such as legal proceedings, under NZTA regulations.

No, our role is to act as impartial fact-finders or to obtain specific information/payment on your behalf. We do not provide legal advice.

Yes, our agents are highly experienced and trained to handle all interactions professionally and calmly, ensuring safety and a successful outcome.

We take your privacy extremely seriously. All our personal safety advice is delivered confidentially and tailored to your specific needs.

Absolutely. Especially when conducted by licensed investigators, like us, under the Ministry of Justice.

This depends on the circumstances. In cases involving estranged family members or past relationships, the answer is usually no—we respect the wishes of the person traced. However, we will explain the situation to you clearly and may pursue follow-up enquiries with the traced individual to provide you with some answers where appropriate. We adopt a ‘case by case’ approach with this as the matters are often very delicate.

We will assess this with you when you engage us. You’ll need to confirm whether a protection order exists to ensure we are not enabling any breaches of the law. What you choose to declare is taken seriously—if a breach occurs, criminal responsibility rests with you.

Operating within legal parameters is very important to us. We have access to databases and resources that assist us in conducting thorough and lawful traces.

The information is sourced directly from the official NZTA database and is highly accurate at the time of the search.

While we cannot guarantee contact, we guarantee a high level of professional effort, using varied approach times and methods to maximise the chance of success.

The biggest challenge is lack of information. The more detail you can provide, the better our chances of success. Photos, vehicle descriptions or registration numbers, and knowledge of known routines are all extremely helpful. Sometimes the available window for service is very limited, so the more information we have, the more effective we can be.

It sure is, we understand the nature of our business and for a variety of reasons the necessity to take absolute care with the information we’re provided.

Both! We work lawyers who operate on behalf of individuals, corporates and also directly with individuals as well.

Yes, we are. You can complete your own checks if you like at the PLPSA register, managed and run by the Ministry of Justice.

If it isn’t urgent, an email is a great way to reach out, we’ll get it either that night or the next morning. If your matter is especially pressing, please call. If we can take your call, we will. If we miss you, send a follow up text and we’ll get back to you. We appreciate there can be urgency or unexpected events that need attention immediately.