Privacy Act 1993 to Privacy Act 2020: Tracking the changes

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog We’ll be saying it for the rest of this year because we want everyone to be aware and ready for it when it happens: The new Privacy Act 2020 is coming into effect on 1 December 2020. As an additional resource to help organisations and businesses understand the … Read more

No compensation for privacy breach

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog The parents of a profoundly disabled boy took a case to the Human Rights Review Tribunal [2020 HRRT 13] on their son’s behalf in relation to the provision and accuracy of his health information while he was in the custody of IDEA Services. IDEA Services is New Zealand’s … Read more

Why it’s important to check your credit report

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog An Auckland Powershop customer did the right thing by checking her credit report after the company said she was in arrears, even though she was up to date with her payments. The news story this week demonstrates the impact wrong repayment information can have on an individual, particularly … Read more

Man awarded $50,000 for destruction of file

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog The Human Rights Review Tribunal [2020 HRRT 16] awarded $50,000 to an ACC claimant after it was found to have breached the Privacy Act by destroying his file. In its decision, the Tribunal said ACC breached the information privacy principles 5 and 6 of the Act. Principle 5 … Read more

Reporting and avoiding privacy breaches in the health sector

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog Identifying, reporting, and reviewing privacy breaches, and acting when individual or systemic issues are identified, is vital to ensuring that a strong privacy culture exists.  Breaches are not just external A common misconception is that a privacy breach only occurs when personal information is inadvertently shared to, or … Read more

Challenging technologies: Perspectives from the Privacy Commissioner 

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog Technology developments can be challenging to privacy laws. We all know our phones are powerhouses of data collection, and that our data is the key asset for big tech. But we don’t always know what data is being collected, nor how it is being used. Recently in Australia … Read more

Awarding damages for emotional harm

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog Under the Privacy Act, the Human Rights Review Tribunal can award damages for emotional harm caused by a privacy breach. Damages are compensatory rather than punitive; the goal is to compensate individuals for specific harm rather than punish a defendant’s bad behaviour. Calculating damages for emotional harm is … Read more

Disclosure of mother’s HDC complaint breaches privacy

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog The Human Rights Review Tribunal heard a case concerning a surgeon’s disclosure to ACC and other doctors that her patient’s mother had made a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) about her. The mother complained about this disclosure under the Privacy Act as she was anxious … Read more

Tribunal expects timeliness and due process

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog The Privacy Act is changing – and one significant feature of the changes will be to put a time limit on when complainants can bring a complaint to the Human Rights Review Tribunal. We’ve highlighted the issue of investigating a complaint about events long in the past in … Read more

Firefighters test their driving skills at UFBA driving competition

Source: United Fire Brigades’ Association Firefighters from around the country will be in Fielding at Chris Eamon Circuit, Manfeild Park on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August for the United Fire Brigades’ Association (UFBA) National Drivers Challenge. The United Fire Brigades’ Association Drivers Challenge brings together over 100 firefighters from all around the country to compete … Read more

China Tower (788.HK) Announces 2025 Interim Results

Source: Media Outreach Steady Improvement in Business QualityContinuously Enhancing Shareholder Returns HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 August 2025 – The world’s largest telecommunications infrastructure service provider China Tower Corporation Limited (“China Tower”, or the “Company”) (Stock Code: 0788.HK) is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 … Read more

Warrant to arrest: Kauri Howard

Source: New Zealand Police Police are appealing to the public for information on the whereabouts of Kauri John Howard, 19, who has a warrant for his arrest. Police believe someone may have information on his whereabouts. Howard is known to frequent the Beach Haven and wider Auckland areas. Anyone with information is urged not to … Read more

Photocopying proof of identity

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog A man complained to us last year after staff took a copy of his driver’s licence as he checked in to a hotel. The complainant was surprised that staff copied his licence and they couldn’t tell him why they needed the copy or how long they would keep … Read more

Home DNA tests and privacy

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog Reviewed for relevance April 2025. Since 2007, companies like 23andMe.com and Ancestry.com have made at-home DNA testing kits accessible to the masses. Through a simple online order, you can receive a kit, provide a saliva sample and return it to the company for analysis. Genetic data is highly sensitive … Read more

What’s in your DNA? What genetic testing might tell us about our health

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog We’ve all seen the ads for genetic ancestry testing – as a way for people to trace their genealogy beyond traditional family trees and historical detail. And thanks to shows like CSI, the public might think of DNA as an investigative tool for the Police; a silver bullet … Read more

How should agencies deal with ‘empty-your-pocket’ requests?

Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog The most common complaints we investigate relate to individuals trying to access their personal information. Some of these requests are “empty-your-pocket” requests to the agency – in other words, requests for all the information held about the person concerned by the agency. The requester is well within their … Read more

Zero Waste – Anxiety rises as decision on incinerator due

Source: Zero Waste Aotearoa Zero Waste Aotearoa is more worried than ever about the waste-to-energy incinerator proposed for Te Awamutu. That’s because so many concerns have emerged about the track record of the company behind the proposal: scrap metal dealer Global Metal Solutions (GMS). The Board of Inquiry decision on resource consent for the proposal … Read more

Greenpeace turns on NZ First over its support for corporate land grab bill

Source: Greenpeace During today’s public submission hearings on the ACT Party’s Overseas Investment Amendment Bill, Greenpeace took direct aim at NZ First, highlighting the hypocrisy of NZ First’s support for the Bill at first reading – despite its long-standing opposition to foreign ownership. The party’s sole representative was notably absent for most of the hearing. Greenpeace … Read more

TUMI Celebrates Grand Opening of First China Flagship Store at Shanghai Centre

Source: Media Outreach A Milestone Moment Marked by Notable Guests, Immersive Experiences, and Elevated Design HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 August 2025 – TUMI, the leading international travel, lifestyle and accessories brand, celebrated the grand opening of its first China flagship store at the iconic Shanghai Centre. TUMI welcomed guests to … Read more

Local News – New dashboard tracks progress on streamside planting – Porirua

Source: Porirua City Council A new online dashboard is now live, providing a window into collective efforts to restore the health of Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour. The Riparian Management Programme, a five-year initiative that began in 2021, aims to plant 630,000 native plants to restore the streamside and prevent erosion within the Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour catchment. It’s … Read more

NZ-AU: Minim Martap Development Update

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU) Highlights Canyon has completed the first drawdown from its US$140 million Credit Facility with AFG Bank Cameroon Canyon secured the Credit Facility on excellent terms, demonstrating the confidence and standing of the Company’s flagship Bauxite Minim Martap Project as a tier-one asset The first drawdown of XAF 15 billion (~US$26 million) before … Read more

Green light for garden sheds and garages

Source: New Zealand Government Thanks to the Red Tape Tipline homeowners building garden sheds, sleepouts, or garages will face less red tape and fewer delays by the end of this year, Regulation Minister David Seymour and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say.  Cabinet has agreed to remove the minimum required distance between single storey … Read more

Inaugural International Potato Symposium

Source: Massey University Two Massey University lecturers recently spoke at the inaugural International Potato Symposium. The symposium was jointly organised by Massey University and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and was held online on 9 December. Speakers and participants from more than 20 countries, including New Zealand, China, Peru, Canada, and the United States, … Read more

Gaga Macau Re-defines Café Culture with Art and Wellness at Galaxy Macau’s Newest Lifestyle Dining Outpost

Source: Media Outreach With its signature ‘All-Day Chill’ the gaga café phenomenon comes to Galaxy Macau, marking outlet number 99 for the Shenzhen-born brand that’s quietly redefining contemporary café culture MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 August 2025 – Galaxy Macau™ Integrated Resort (“Galaxy Macau”) today officially opened gaga, the Shenzhen-born dining group’s … Read more

Address to Papua New Guinea Parliament

Source: New Zealand Government The Honourable Job Pomat, Speaker of the Papua New Guinea National Parliament, The Honourable James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, The Honourable Douglas Tomuriesa, Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Members, Distinguished guests, members of the diplomatic corps, ladies and gentlemen, and The people of Papua New Guinea  Tēnā koutou, Gutpela … Read more

Restoring test for Customary Marine Title

Source: New Zealand Government The Government has agreed to move forward with legislation that restores Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Last year we introduced legislation to overturn the Court of Appeal’s ruling in Re Edwards, and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act to restore Parliament’s original test … Read more

School of Built Environment students awarded scholarships

Source: Massey University Five students from the School of Built Environment have recently been awarded one-year tertiary scholarships for 2022 through Keystone Trust and their Key Scholarship Partners. For more than 27 years Keystone Trust has provided support for young people from challenging backgrounds – both financial and circumstantial – to undertake tertiary study towards … Read more