Absconded debtors.
Lenders, finance companies and debt recovery agencies looking for borrowers who have moved without notice. Often paired with our debt collection and vehicle repossession services.
Service / 02 · Skip Tracing · National Coverage
Skip Tracing New Zealand.
If they don't want to be found, that's our specialty.
Debtors, witnesses, missing family, beneficiaries — we use licensed databases, ground-truth field work, and decades of pattern recognition to put a current, verified address on your desk inside seven days. Licensed under the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010 (PSPLA #22-099124) and operating across every region of New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
PSPLA #22-099124 Licensed
89% Closure < 7 days
Privacy Act 2020 Compliant
24/7 Intake
What is skip tracing? Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who has moved without leaving a forwarding address — typically an absconded debtor, a witness who has gone to ground, or a missing family member. Blacklisted Investigations is a licensed New Zealand skip tracing firm based in New Plymouth, Taranaki, operating nationwide. We start with database research, verify in the field, and deliver a court-formatted report with photo confirmation. 89% of our files close within seven days.
Who hires a skip tracer
Five reasons a file lands on our desk.
Civil & criminal litigation.
Subpoena-ready addresses for witnesses with verification documentation that holds up in court. Court-formatted reports for direct filing with counsel.
Voluntary disappearance.
Adult subjects only. Family reconnection, estate matters, beneficiary location, cold-case relatives. Sensitive briefs handled with discretion.
Pre-litigation verification.
Pre-litigation asset confirmation and address verification for service of documents. Pairs directly with our process serving service.
Volume files.
Finance companies running 10+ files per month qualify for monthly retainer pricing. Single point of contact, weekly status reports, predictable cost.
Beneficiary tracing.
Locate adult missing family for estate distribution. We close many beneficiary files that have been cold for a decade or more.
How a trace runs
Database first. Field second. Verify always.
The rule: if we haven't verified them at the address, we don't deliver the address. Likely does not equal located.
1
Brief & intake
Hour 0–1
Send the file: subject name, last known address, DOB, any identifiers you have. Case opened within one business hour. Quote provided at intake.
2
Trace & verify
Day 1–4
Database research first — licensed sources, public NZ records, electoral roll, court records, company filings, social footprint. Field verification second — on the ground, photo confirmation, neighbour or workplace inquiry on a lawful basis.
3
Report & handover
Day 5–7
Verified address delivered with photo confirmation and supporting documentation. Court-formatted for direct filing. Privacy Act 2020 compliant chain-of-custody.
Live case file (redacted)
TRACE · File 2026-0287 · Closed Day 5.
Finance company couldn't reach a debtor who vanished from Hamilton. Brief Monday → verified address Friday.
Day 0 · 09:14 Brief received · file opened
Day 1 · 11:30 Database cross-reference complete · 3 candidate addresses
Day 2 · 14:50 Field agent dispatched · Tauranga candidate cleared
Day 3 · 16:10 Second candidate address — Bay of Plenty — cleared
Day 4 · 16:22 Subject confirmed in residence · photo evidence captured
Day 5 · 09:00 Verified report delivered · file closed
89% of skip-trace files close inside seven days. Internal closure data 2024–2025.
The lawful line
A trace that won't survive scrutiny isn't worth running.
What we will do
- Cross-reference licensed databases and public NZ records
- On-the-ground field verification of every candidate address
- Lawfully captured photo and observation evidence
- Neighbour or workplace inquiries on a sound, lawful basis
- Court-formatted reporting and Privacy Act 2020 chain-of-custody
What we will not do
- Pretext bank, telco or government records
- Impersonate police, lawyers or family members
- Hack, phish or unlawfully acquire data
- Trespass on private land for observation
- Disclose a subject's address to unauthorised third parties
Engagement structures
Three ways to engage.
Single file
Fixed fee per file, quoted at intake. Most common. Used by lawyers, individuals and one-off corporate matters.
Volume retainer
For finance companies running 10+ files per month. Fixed monthly retainer, single point of contact, weekly status reports.
Bespoke brief
Cold cases, multi-jurisdiction matters, sensitive briefs. Quoted per matter after a confidential scoping call.
National coverage
Cape Reinga to Bluff.
Active investigators in every major NZ region. Headquartered in New Plymouth, Taranaki.
Auckland
Greater Auckland skip tracing — North Shore, Central, East, South and the wider region.
Wellington
Wellington, Hutt Valley, Porirua and Kapiti Coast.
Christchurch · Canterbury
Christchurch metro and Canterbury-wide field coverage.
Hamilton · Waikato
Waikato regional skip tracing — Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu.
Tauranga · Bay of Plenty
Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Whakatāne, Rotorua.
New Plymouth · Taranaki
Headquarters. Taranaki, Whanganui and the central west coast.
FAQ
Skip tracing — straight answers.
What is skip tracing?
Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who has moved without leaving a forwarding address — typically an absconded debtor, a witness who has gone to ground, a missing family member, or a beneficiary whose location is unknown. A licensed skip tracer uses licensed databases, public records and on-the-ground field verification to produce a current, verified address.
How accurate is your data?
We don't deliver an address we haven't verified. Database results are starting points only — every candidate address is confirmed by on-the-ground field verification before the file is closed.
How fast can you locate someone?
Files are opened within one business hour. 89% of skip-trace files close inside seven days. Cold cases and multi-jurisdiction matters take longer — we'll tell you the realistic timeframe at intake.
Do you trace people who are overseas?
NZ-based by default. Overseas tracing is handled via partner networks on a case-by-case basis. We'll advise feasibility and cost at intake.
What can a skip trace NOT include?
No pretexting of banks, telcos or government agencies. No impersonation of police, lawyers or family members. No hacking, phishing or unlawful data acquisition. No trespass for observation.
How much does a skip trace cost?
Single files are fixed-fee, quoted at intake. Finance companies running 10+ files per month qualify for volume retainer pricing. Cold and bespoke briefs are quoted individually. Initial intake is free.
Can I just get a phone number rather than an address?
Sometimes. Phone numbers are harder to verify than addresses. We'll give you an honest read on the odds at intake.
Paired services
Often bundled with skip tracing.
Debt Collection
Locate, then recover. Skip-trace files commonly handed straight to our debt collection team. CCCFA compliant.
Process Serving
Locate, then serve. Verified address handed straight to a process server with sworn affidavit on completion.
Vehicle Repossession
Locate, then recover the asset. PPSR-checked, body-cam equipped, full chain-of-custody.
Got a file that's gone cold?
Send us the brief. We'll tell you if we can find them — and what it'll cost. Free, confidential intake — same business hour.