Privacy Commissioner (New Zealand)

Privacy Commissioner
Te Mana Matapono Matatapu
Agency overview
Formed1993
Agency executive
  • Michael Webster, Privacy Commissioner
Key document
  • The Privacy Act 2020 [1]
Websitewww.privacy.org.nz

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner (New Zealand) administers the Privacy Act 2020.[1] The Privacy Commissioner is entrusted to protect personal information of New Zealanders in accordance with the Privacy Act. Current Privacy Commissioner, Michael Webster, began his role in July 2022.

The Privacy Commissioner oversees personal information held by agencies in both the public and private sectors.[2] This is achieved through monitoring compliance with the 13 Information Privacy Principles. Amid his varied responsibilities, the Commissioner administers a complaint system and issues Codes of Practice or rules for particular industries, contexts and sectors.[3] Most cases involve investigation, conciliation and settlement.[4] Serious breaches are referred to the Human Rights Review Tribunal.[5] The Commissioner inherently considers international obligations and worldwide developments in privacy protection.

  1. ^ Privacy Act 2020
  2. ^ Privacy Act 1993, s 2(1)(a) in Steven Penk and Rosemary Tobin Privacy Law in New Zealand at 58.
  3. ^ Privacy Act 1993, ss 13(1AA)(d) and s46(1) in New Zealand Law Commission Review of the Privacy Act 1993: Review of the Law of Privacy Stage 4 Archived 13 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine at [5.4].
  4. ^ Steven Penk and Rosemary Tobin Privacy Law in New Zealand at 51.
  5. ^ Privacy Act 1993, s 77 in New Zealand Law Commission Review of the Privacy Act 1993: Review of the Law of Privacy Stage 4 Archived 13 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine at [5.4].