http://privacy.org.nz/speeches-presentations-articles/ http://privacy.org.nz/where-in-the-world-is-your-information/ Presentation given by the Privacy Commissioner to SeniorNet AGM in Wellington on Monday, 30 May 2011 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:53:12 +1300 http://privacy.org.nz/where-in-the-world-is-your-information/ http://privacy.org.nz/privacy-and-the-media-presentation-to-aut-school-of-journalism-law-ethics/ View the presentation "Privacy and the Media" given jointly by Marie Shroff, Privacy Commissioner, and Annabel Fordham, Senior Adviser, Legal & Public Affairs at the AUT, Auckland on 4 April 2011.  Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:57:21 +1300 http://privacy.org.nz/privacy-and-the-media-presentation-to-aut-school-of-journalism-law-ethics/ http://privacy.org.nz/focusing-on-solutions-working-with-the-office-of-the-privacy-commissioner/ The NZ Law Society Continuing Legal Education Ltd has published "Public Law Remedies Toolbox".  One of the authors, Katrine Evans, Assistant Commissioner (Legal and Policy) wrote on the above topic and her chapter included: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:02:19 +1200 http://privacy.org.nz/focusing-on-solutions-working-with-the-office-of-the-privacy-commissioner/ http://privacy.org.nz/reports-on-aspects-of-privacy-compliance-and-practice-of-the-nz-post-lifestyle-survey-200/ View the two reports into the use of personal data for marketing purposes in the NZ Post survey and the letter to NZ Post.  Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:54:37 +1200 http://privacy.org.nz/reports-on-aspects-of-privacy-compliance-and-practice-of-the-nz-post-lifestyle-survey-200/ http://privacy.org.nz/the-globe-and-the-cloud-where-is-the-privacy-commissioner-heading/ NZ Computer Society, Wellington Breakfast Meeting on Thursday, 17 March 2011Introduction - Transformations• Very pleased to be here today. Lots of overlap between your work areas and the interests of privacy and data commissioners around the world.• Believe we can help you in your business - privacy is not an optional extra - it is now more a necessity, and a competitive advantage.• My work in the privacy field is very affected by technological change. Why? All to do with the way information about people is handled. In 2011, that means online and in databases. • Worldwide, the landscape for information handling and information sharing has transformed into one dominated by electronic data and media. • In another context - our geographical landscape has also undergone a brutal transformation.• Since I was invited to speak here, the second major earthquake has devastated Christchurch, and now northern Japan. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:26:42 +1300 http://privacy.org.nz/the-globe-and-the-cloud-where-is-the-privacy-commissioner-heading/ http://privacy.org.nz/nz-doctor-series-privacy-matters-24/ February 2011Keeping children safe is one of the goals of civilised society. We should be judged by how we treat our most vulnerable citizens. And the media, appropriately, make a lot of noise when it goes wrong. Anyone who listens to the news can recite a roll call of tragedy.But what can be done to stop that roll call getting longer? One suggestion that often comes up is that government agencies should be sharing more information. If the agencies charged with guarding children against harm could all work from the same information then perhaps children might stop falling through the gaps? Worrying signs would be seen in plenty of time to address them, alarm bells would be heard and appropriate steps taken.So where should we draw the line? Sharing information where safety is threatened is always ok - but do we want a world where government agencies share everything about... Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:39:51 +1300 http://privacy.org.nz/nz-doctor-series-privacy-matters-24/ http://privacy.org.nz/2010-forum-speakers-bios-and-presentation-summaries/ Marie ShroffMarie Shroff was appointed to the independent statutory position of Privacy Commissioner in late 2003. Her responsibilities include independent comment on significant personal information policies and issues, providing opinions on privacy complaints made against government and business, monitoring government data matching and promoting good personal information handling practices in New Zealand. From 1987-2003 Marie Shroff held the position of Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council, and was responsible for the operation of Cabinet, the Executive Council, and Government House. She worked with four Governors-General, six Prime Ministers, and governments of various parties. Earlier in her career Marie Shroff worked in foreign affairs, teaching, journalism and the public service. From 1986 to 1987 she led an official group managing the corporatisation of nine major state agencies in New Zealand. From 1980 82 she was seconded to the UK Cabinet Office. Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:01:48 +1300 http://privacy.org.nz/2010-forum-speakers-bios-and-presentation-summaries/ http://privacy.org.nz/nz-doctor-series-privacy-matters-23/ November 2010In New Zealand a patient can expect to read their medical notes on request with only a few, rare, exceptions.But what if their notes don't make sense? After all Latin, abbreviations and medical jargon can be rife in medicine. Patients who ask for a copy of their records may reasonably expect to get some help in understanding what they mean.Most of the time this won't be a problem. But how would you explain about the slang that doctors, particularly in hospitals, have developed over the years to ‘tip the wink' to other doctors or just release a bit of frustration on long shifts?For instance FLK for ‘funny looking kid' is well-known and might have some clinical relevance where there is a possible genetic or metabolic condition that needs further investigation. But it would be a brave GP who chose to explain that to the parents.And how about when you have... Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:28:07 +1300 http://privacy.org.nz/nz-doctor-series-privacy-matters-23/ http://privacy.org.nz/nz-doctor-series-privacy-matters-22/ July 2010As you probably know, last year the Ministry of Health asked for Expressions of Interest (EOI) on improving primary health care, to make it ‘Better, Sooner, More Convenient'. Nearly eighty were received in all, each one relating to a different project. These EOIs have now been received and assessed. The successful ones have moved on to planning and implementation.One of the themes that has emerged is the increased use of electronic health records, whether to create ‘shared care' records that will bridge different medical disciplines, or to improve referral processes through ‘care pathways'.Everyone wants to make medical care better, quicker and more convenient and I'm certainly not about to start arguing. But where there might be tradeoffs involving privacy I take an interest.Put simply, doctors (and other health agencies like hospitals) are responsible for the health information they hold. Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:18:43 +1300 http://privacy.org.nz/nz-doctor-series-privacy-matters-22/ http://privacy.org.nz/nz-doctor-series-privacy-matters-21/ June 2010The development of national Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is big business around the world. Australia alone is set to spend more than half a billion dollars on it before 2012. UK and US spending dwarfs that.In New Zealand we have some elements of culture and infrastructure, such as the National Health Index, that put us well ahead of the international game. The recent draft National Health IT Plan has a go at charting the next step.[1] But first - do we actually need EHRs? This is a key question and the answers deserve careful scrutiny given the vast expenses and complexities involved. "Lessening medical errors" and "reducing expense" seem to be the main reasons given; but presumably new systems will add their own kinds of errors and expenses. "Dealing with patients who move frequently" is another justification.I suspect one of the main unspoken drivers is bringing the health system... Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:10:43 +1300 http://privacy.org.nz/nz-doctor-series-privacy-matters-21/