1 November 2021
File No: DOIA 2122-0804
Mike Hunua
Email
: [FYI request #17045 email]
Dear Mike Hunua
Thank you for your email of 5 October 2021 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(the Ministry) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), information regarding
Business Travel documentation.
Business travel documents are requested by employers for those employees they consider need to
cross a boundary to undertake business activity. Businesses provide details about the business and
the business activity, and then a list of workers’ names (first and last name only). The amount of
personal information contained in the system is therefore very limited. The Ministry does not hold
other personal information about workers, nor do we verify their identities in any way.
For clarity, I have addressed each part of your request below.
1. Could the Ministry provide any privacy policy they have in regards to the Business
Travel document to pass the Auckland Boundary and the information it contains
within the QR code on the document?
The Business Travel Register falls under the www.business.govt.nz privacy policy, which you can
access here:
https://www.business.govt.nz/about-us/privacy
2. Who can scan the document?
Only authorised COVID-19 enforcement officers, such as Police and New Zealand Defence Force are
able to scan the QR code on the business travel documents. The QR code enables the enforcement
officer to verify that the document has been issued by the business travel register and is valid.
3. Can a document be cancelled if lost or stolen, and policies regarding unauthorised
use of these documents?
Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140 New Zealand
E [email address]
W www.mbie.govt.nz
Yes, it can be cancelled. However, the document is also unique to the user as it contains the name of
the worker and business that requested the document, so it isn’t of much use to someone else.
Business travel documents are not a form of ID. Police will generally check both the business travel
document and a person’s ID to ensure that the document belongs to that individual.
As the document is unique to the individual, use by someone it was not issued for is unlikely.
Unauthorised use isn’t illegal, as the document isn’t a legal requirement. However, if someone
crosses the boundary for a reason that isn’t permitted, that is illegal, Police may prosecute.
4. Does the document need to be scanned by officials every crossing?
Police or other enforcement officers on duty determine how many and which vehicles/people they
stop, and whether to scan business travel documents or not.
5. Does the QR code contained in the Document log movements (entry and exits of an
area)?
QR code scans are logged. The log includes the document scanned, when, and by which enforcement
officer. The log does not register direction of travel.
6. Can any person scan the document with a QR code scanner on a smart device?
No, the QR code is a white-listed weblink, so only authorised devices can access the information.
7. What information does the QR code contain?
The QR code is a white-listed weblink. The link contains information about the business activity, the
person’s name, and whether the document is valid.
8. Any relevant privacy policy regarding these documents for the holder as employers
may request these documents for employees.
Only businesses can request business travel documents. This is because documents are only issued
for permitted travel for businesses and their workers. Businesses input the information, so MBIE
doesn’t hold additional personal information about the workers than what the business already has.
9. Does the Ministry have any intentions to link testing and vaccination status to these
documents for ease of crossing if longer-term boundary restrictions are used?
The Ministry has investigated the potential to link testing status to these documents, however, this
is not progressing any further at this time.
I trust you will find this information useful.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our response to your
request. Information about how to make a complaint is available a
t: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or free phone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Gallagher
Business Travel Exemptions Manager
Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery