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Sharing of Biometric Data with 'Five Eyes' Partners

James Atkinson made this Official Information request to Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

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From: James Atkinson

Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

I would like to make a FOI request on the details of the sharing of biometric data between NZ and its 5 Eyes partners (Australia, Canada, the US, UK), for immigration purposes or otherwise. Please provide information on the following points:

1. Is biometric data collected from NZ visa or residency applicants (including but not limited to fingerprints, photographs, DNA, etc.) currently being shared on a systematic or case by case basis between NZ and its 5 Eyes Partners? Systematic sharing would mean data of all applicants would be shared automatically, without any selection criteria.

2. Please provide any statistics, if available (e.g. number of queries sent to each country per year)

3. If the sharing of biometric data is not systematic, please provide details of the procedures and criteria that apply. For example, how does NZ select the cases that it wants to make queries on?

4. Please provide details on all relevant regulations or agreements/MoUs that are either already in force, or currently being planned but not yet in force.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,
James Atkinson

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From: Ministerial Services
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Ref: 1920-1646

 

Dear James,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 25 May 2020 requesting under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

I would like to make a FOI request on the details of the sharing of
biometric data between NZ and its 5 Eyes partners (Australia, Canada, the
US, UK), for immigration purposes or otherwise. Please provide information
on the following points:

 

1. Is biometric data collected from NZ visa or residency applicants
(including but not limited to fingerprints, photographs, DNA, etc.)
currently being shared on a systematic or case by case basis between NZ
and its 5 Eyes Partners? Systematic sharing would mean data of all
applicants would be shared automatically, without any selection criteria.

 

2. Please provide any statistics, if available (e.g. number of queries
sent to each country per year)

 

3. If the sharing of biometric data is not systematic, please provide
details of the procedures and criteria that apply. For example, how does
NZ select the cases that it wants to make queries on?

 

4. Please provide details on all relevant regulations or agreements/MoUs
that are either already in force, or currently being planned but not yet
in force.

 

Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act and a response
will be sent to you in due course.

 

Please note, due to ongoing COVID-19 response work, requests are currently
being triaged and those relating to Covid-19 processed as a priority.
Remaining requests are being assessed as per the Ombudsman’s guidance
(which can be found here:
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news/chief-ombudsmans-statement-official-information-response-times-during-covid-19-emergency)
and processed accordingly.

 

If you have any enquiries regarding your request, or its urgency, feel
free to contact us via email at [2][MBIE request email].

 

Nâku noa, nâ

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

 

Corporate, Governance and Information

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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References

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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news/...
2. mailto:[MBIE request email]
3. http://www.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: Robyn Webster
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Attachment image001.png
11K Download

Attachment DOIA 1920 1646 Extension Letter.pdf
60K Download View as HTML

Dear James,

 

Please find attached the extension letter for your Official Information
Act request received by the Ministry on 25 May 2020.

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Robyn Webster
BUSINESS ADVISOR, Business
Support                                                                                                                       

 

Intelligence, Data and Insights, Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

[1][email address] |
15 Stout Street, PO Box 3705, Wellington 6140   

NZBN 9429000106078

[2]cid:image001.png@01D54C65.45F28FF0

 

 

[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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References

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1. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.govt.nz/

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From: Margee DO
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Attachment DOIA 1920 1646 James Atkinson Signed Response Letter.pdf
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Dear James

Please find attached response to your information request

Sincerely,

Margee Do
Senior Advisor

Enablement, Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
[email address] | Telephone: +64 4  917 8024
Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

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