The increasing role of biometric technologies in the lives of New Zealanders has led to calls for greater regulation of biometrics. This discussion paper has been released to gather public feedback on any possible regulatory changes.

A key finding from this inquiry is that where police take photographs of people in contexts outside those specific statutory situations, officers must comply with the Privacy Act and the information privacy principles within it, taking into account the status of digital photographs as sensitive biometric information.

Organisations are increasingly collecting people’s sensitive personal information and analysing it using biometric technology. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner is seeking the views of New Zealanders on biometrics and their use in New Zealand in response to this consultation paper.

This report brings together highlights of the biennial survey and the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner's internal insights reporting to provide a fuller picture of what New Zealanders think about in relation to privacy in New Zealand, and how they utilise their privacy rights.

This document provides guidance on how the New Zealand Privacy Act applies to sensitive personal information.