The Privacy Commissioner’s Office works to develop and promote a culture in which personal information is protected and respected.

The Privacy Commissioner administers the Privacy Act 1993. The Privacy Act applies to almost every person, business or organisation in New Zealand. The Act sets out 12 privacy principles that guide how personal information can be collected, used, stored and disclosed.

The Office is an independent Crown Entity and was set up in 1993.

The Privacy Commissioner’s Office has a wide range of functions. Some of these include investigating complaints about breaches of privacy, running education programmes, and examining proposed legislation and how it may affect individual privacy.

The Privacy Act controls how agencies collect, use, disclose, store and give access to personal information. You may apply to the relevant agency under the Privacy Act if you wish to obtain a copy of, or have access to, information held about yourself. You may also ask for it to be corrected.
The Privacy Commissioner investigates complaints.

SUMMARY

* Ensure information privacy principles are being followed

* If you have already followed the complaints procedure of the agency
concerned you can contact the Privacy Commissioner

* The Privacy Commissioner will investigate and try to resolve cases and
may take cases to the Complaints Review Tribunal for a ruling.