The names of children who died before their parents will in future be listed on the parent's death certificate, thanks to a six-year battle by a Coromandel mother.
A little known rule in New Zealand has until now meant that if your children die before you, their names aren't listed on your death certificate, and only your living children are put on it.
Since her husband's death in 2002, both of Jo's Schnebelli's daughters have died.
And when it's her time, Ms Schnebelli wants their names to be officially recorded on her death certificate
"The fact that they're not acknowledged on your death certificate just seems as if it didn't matter to anyone," Ms Schnebelli told 1 NEWS.
"One of the main things that's always worried me about this since I found out about this was our soldiers in the wars. We honour them and yet their own parents weren't able to acknowledge them on their death certificates," she said.
Ms Schnebelli has been pleading for an amendment to the Births Deaths and Marriages Act.
Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin has now presented Ms Schnebelli with a framed statement confirming her campaigning has paid off.
"I know it will mean so much to numerous parents who've lost children," Ms Schnebelli said tearfully.
Since she has been fighting for change, there've been three ministers for Internal Affairs.
The third and current one, Ms Martin, says as soon as Ms Schnebelli's file landed on her desk, changing the rules was a no brainer.
"It seemed like a strange anomaly to me. It was really easy to fix. It's a regulation, we didn't need to pass a law. It was very simple so I don't know why it took so long," the minister said.
While old death certificates won't be changed, from now on new ones will include pre-deceased children.
Ms Schnebelli is considering it a personal triumph.
"I promised my two girls that I'd get it sorted before I died."
The new regulations come into effect on November 5.
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