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There are a number of organisations in New Zealand and around the world that are involved in protecting privacy and personal information. We also actively participate in several international privacy networks.
CERT NZ is your first port of call when you need to report a cyber security problem. This government agency support businesses, organisations and individuals affected by cyber security incidents, and provide trusted and authoritative information and advice.
Complaintline - Not sure who to ask for help? In New Zealand there are a wide range of agencies providing dispute investigation services and/or enforcement of consumer protection legislation. Complaintline has a list of organisations that people can complain to and a summary of their roles.
Human Rights Commission - If you have faced discrimination, hateful speech, or your human rights have been denied, the Human Rights Commission may be able to help. They can help you to get the information and support you need from the commission or another organisation if they are better able to help.
Office of the Ombudsman - The Ombudsman's primary role is to investigate complaints against government agencies.
International Association of Privacy Professionals
International Association of Privacy Professionals - The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) is the largest and most comprehensive global privacy community. IAPP is a not-for-profit with a mission to define, promote and improve the privacy profession globally. Member benefits include local and global events, networking opportunities, news and updates, research and resources, and training and certifications. Find out more about IAPP’s activities in the ANZ region here.
New Zealand Legal Information Institute (NZLII) - Free access to 54 databases of NZ law covering case law, courts and cases, legislation and much more.
Law Commission - The Law Commission has carried out a wide-ranging review of privacy law in New Zealand. The review was in four stages, and covered privacy values, technological change and international trends, and their implications for NZ law; the law relating to public registers; the adequacy of civil and criminal law to deal with invasions of privacy; and a review of the Privacy Act 1993.
New Zealand's privacy laws are just one part of a world-wide picture of privacy protection. Privacy is protected as a human right at the highest international level.
The United Nations has adopted provisions or instruments that protect privacy. For example:
A number of international bodies have developed more detailed guidelines for information privacy protection. Examples from two organisations that New Zealand is a member of are:
New Zealand has filed an Individual Action Plan (IAP) under the APEC Privacy Framework. IAPs from other APEC economies are also available for comparison and further information. You can view the APEC Privacy Enforcement Workshop held in July 2013 here.
New Zealand has published its enforcement jurisdiction and policies as a participant in the APEC Cooperation Arrangement for Cross-Border Privacy Enforcement (CPEA).
See the Summary Statement of Privacy Enforcement Authority enforcement practices, policies and activities.
View the European Commission decision that New Zealand privacy law provides an adequate standard of data protection for the purposes of EU law.
Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities is the principal forum for regional privacy authorities to form partnerships and exchange ideas about privacy regulation, new technologies and the management of privacy enquiries and complaints.
Find out more about APPA on their website
There are also several other international meetings of privacy regulators which the Privacy Commissioner and his staff contribute to. These are:
The Global Privacy Assembly first met in 1979 as the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners. The Assembly has been the premier global forum for data protection and privacy authorities for more than four decades.
Homepage - Global Privacy Assembly
The network was created to strengthen personal privacy protections in this global context by assisting public authorities with responsibilities for enforcing domestic privacy laws strengthen their capacities for cross-border cooperation. The New Zealand Privacy Commissioner's Office has been participating in an annual GPEN sweep.
The group meets periodically throughout the year in member countries, and members have developed common positions on a wide range of issues. IWGDPT working papers and common position papers are available from the IWGDPT website:
In 2008, the Privacy Commissioners of New Zealand and Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding which allowed for cooperation between their offices on privacy-related issues. The agreement covers sharing information about surveys, research projects, promotional campaigns, education and training programs, and techniques in investigating privacy violations and regulatory strategies.
It also addresses cooperation on complaints with a cross-border element and the possible undertaking of joint investigations.
Read the Memorandum (3.6MB)
