This content was specific to a COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. There is no current state of national emergency. Visit our Privacy and COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.

The High Court’s decision on the proceedings brought by Rt Hon Winston Peters for breach of privacy is a welcome and useful addition to the case law on the tort of privacy. It also gives some useful guidance on the “no surprises” principle – the guideline under which a chief executive informs their Minister of matters of significance relating to their portfolio. 

A former nurse who waited five years to lodge a privacy complaint with the Privacy Commissioner had her request for judgement rejected by the Human Rights Review Tribunal (HRRT) in March 2020.[1]

It is not a helpful or even correct perception that privacy has been getting in the way of fighting the Covid-19 virus. 

A district health board (DHB) received a request from a social service agency asking the DHB to disclose the names of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19. The DHB contacted us for advice – should it share this information? The DHB was concerned this could be a privacy breach.

The information on this page is more than one year old and may no longer be current. Please visit our Privacy and COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.

Note: This content was specific to the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. There is no current state of national emergency. 

The information on this page is more than one year old and may no longer be current. Please visit business.govt.nz for the most up-to-date information.