Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/32134-drivers-licenses-not-being-accepted-as-a-form-of-identification?unfold=1 on September 24, 2025 06:23

Drivers Licenses not being accepted as a form of Identification

James Welsh made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development

Currently waiting for a response from Ministry of Social Development, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).

From: James Welsh

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

I would like to request a detailed summary of the Staff Team Meeting that took place on the 27th of August, 2025 at the Henderson Branch.

There has been multiple incidents of clients being rejected by the Front Desk for providing a Drivers License, being informed that it is not "Acceptable Form of Identification" and that the Client must provide their Client number.

This essentially is de-humanizing individuals, by denying their core existence identification, in the eyes of the system, a client is not a person but a number to be catalogued. This raises a question—when does efficiency in bureaucracy cross into dehumanization? To reject a valid, government-issued ID in favour of an internal number feels like a deliberate act to strip away individuality and to immediately establish the power dynamics as first point of contact with the organization.

According to a manager at the Henderson Branch, they were going to address this very specific issue in a "Team Meeting", I would like to request a copy of this meeting if it was held digitally / if or any notes that could be provided to go along with the outcome of that meeting.

I would also like to know when the last time Staff at this Branch have taken a Privacy Test / Privacy Training Model or Emulator.

I would also like to know precisely how they identify a client that walks in, what is the exact verification steps the Front Desk agent makes?

I would also like a copy of the instructions or training material that advises the Front Desk Staff to refuse a Drivers License as their first protocol in establishing the identity of a client that walks in.

I would also like to know what steps are being taken to address the lack of identification that occurs from the Front Desk.

Yours faithfully,
J, Welsh

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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development

IN-CONFIDENCE

Tçnâ koe James Welsh,

Thank you for your email received 27 August 2025, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond.

The information you have requested may contain the names and contact details of our staff. Please let us know by 29 August 2025 whether you require these names and contact details. We will need to consult our staff before deciding whether we can release this information, and this will take a bit more time. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you do not require staff names and contact details.

Ngâ manaakitanga,

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent Ko ta mâtou he whakamana tangata kia tû haumaru, kia tû kaha, kia tû motuhake

-----Original Message-----
From: James Welsh <[FOI #32134 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 4:47 PM
To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[MSD request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Drivers Licenses not being accepted as a form of Identification

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

I would like to request a detailed summary of the Staff Team Meeting that took place on the 27th of August, 2025 at the Henderson Branch.

There has been multiple incidents of clients being rejected by the Front Desk for providing a Drivers License, being informed that it is not "Acceptable Form of Identification" and that the Client must provide their Client number.

This essentially is de-humanizing individuals, by denying their core existence identification, in the eyes of the system, a client is not a person but a number to be catalogued. This raises a question—when does efficiency in bureaucracy cross into dehumanization? To reject a valid, government-issued ID in favour of an internal number feels like a deliberate act to strip away individuality and to immediately establish the power dynamics as first point of contact with the organization.

According to a manager at the Henderson Branch, they were going to address this very specific issue in a "Team Meeting", I would like to request a copy of this meeting if it was held digitally / if or any notes that could be provided to go along with the outcome of that meeting.

I would also like to know when the last time Staff at this Branch have taken a Privacy Test / Privacy Training Model or Emulator.

I would also like to know precisely how they identify a client that walks in, what is the exact verification steps the Front Desk agent makes?

I would also like a copy of the instructions or training material that advises the Front Desk Staff to refuse a Drivers License as their first protocol in establishing the identity of a client that walks in.

I would also like to know what steps are being taken to address the lack of identification that occurs from the Front Desk.

Yours faithfully,
J, Welsh

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From: James Welsh

Dear OIA_Requests (MSD),

Please only provide the names of the Management involved and or any Human Resources employee's involved in the team meeting, or conversations that followed from this topic. This includes "People Leaders", "Team Leaders", "HR" "Inclusion Teams". There is no need to provide "Front-line" staff or non management staff names, they shall remain private.

Please also include a total number of "Invited, Accepted, Declined, Attended" (numbers not names).

Yours sincerely,

James Welsh

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