MINISTERIAL BRIEFING NOTE
Subject
Meeting with Apple about Digital Driver Licences
Date
15 August 2025
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Briefing number
BRI-3400
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Contact(s) for telephone discussion (if required)
Name
Position
Direct line
Cell phone
1st contact
Liz Maguire
Chief Digital Officer s 9(2)(a)
Action taken by Office of the Minister
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¨ Noted
¨ Seen by Minister
¨ Agreed
¨ Feedback provided
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¨ Forwarded to
¨ Needs change [please specify] THE
¨ Withdrawn
¨ Overtaken by events
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15 August 2025
Hon Chris Bishop – Minister of Transport
MEETING WITH APPLE ABOUT DIGITAL DRIVER LICENCES
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Purpose
1. This briefing provides you with an update on the work on digital driver licenses, in support of
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your upcoming meeting with Apple on 19 August 2025.
2. Liz Maguire, Chief Digital Officer, will be attending the meeting.
Background and context section
Transition to digital licences
3. In line with the Government’s service modernisation objective, there is a significant opportunity
to digitise many of our services and interactions with the New Zealand public, including the
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introduction of a digital driver licence (DDL).
4. The transition to a DDL is a significant step in modernising New Zealand’s licensing system. It
aligns with the Government’s broader service modernisation objective and the digital identity
ecosystem led by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) under the Digital Identity Services
Trust Framework (DISTF).
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A DDL offers benefits of improved secure identity verification, including enhanced fraud prevention
and identity verification
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5. Enhanced Security and Fraud Prevention: DDLs use encryption so that personal details are kept
private, preventing forgery and reducing identity fraud. A DDL will be built to an ISO standard
meaning that security requirements are kept up to date and ensuring interoperability across
markets.
6. Verified Authenticity: A DDL provides a secure digital identity credential that can be used in
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person or online to confirm identity. It enables the holder to control the amount of data they
share with a third party (for example a holder can prove they are over 18 without providing
their name or birth date). DIA has built the NZ Verifier App (launched in May 2025) which
certifies digital credentials as being issued by a legitimate authority. The NZ Verifier App will
initially be used for overseas driver licenses being used in New Zealand, but overtime will also
be used for our NZ DDL.
7. Privacy Control: Users can choose what information to share, unlike physical driver licences. For
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example, for age verification, users can confirm legal age, without revealing their name, date of
birth or other personal information.
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8. Cost Efficiency: Reduces costs related to printing, issuing, and delivering physical licences.
Lowers frontline service demands, and improves responsiveness during crises (such as cyber
breaches, pandemics), as the DDL can be updated more quickly than a physical card.
Current status
9. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has successful y completed the co-design of a DDL
solution for New Zealand in partnership with the association of the Australian and New Zealand
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transport agencies (Austroads). With Austroads help we worked with digital wallet providers
s 9(2)(b)(ii)
to develop a solution to enable DDL issuance directly to users’
digital wallets. The solution aligns with New Zealand-specific technical and policy
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requirements.
10. To ensure broad accessibility, the DDL solution needs to be compatible with both Apple and
Android (Google) platforms, noting that Apple has approximately 39 percent of the domestic
mobile phone market. Work with Austroads is ongoing as details with the wallet providers are
finalised.
11. We are now documenting the outcomes of the co-design work and completing a business case.
DDL is not yet prioritised or funded for implementation (as it is not specified in the Government
Policy Statement on land transport, it is not able to be funded as part of the National Land
Transport Programme).
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12. We have not yet committed to the Austroads solution, although we are now confident that it
meets our requirements. We expect to sign a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding in
August 2025 to enable Austroads to proceed with technology procurement. If we wish to proceed,
we will need to sign a participation agreement later in the year.
13. NZTA is also actively collaborating with central government agencies, including the DIA and the
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Ministry of Transport on the DDL co-design.
14. The Ministry of Transport is progressing the necessary legislative changes through the
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Regulatory Systems (Transport) Amendment Bill (RSTA Bill). Cabinet approved the RSTA Bill for
introduction in July 2025. It is likely to be introduced in August 2025.
15. The DIA has been involved to support integration with New Zealand’s digital identity ecosystem.
This cross-agency approach ensures the solution is future-proofed, secure, and aligned with the
Governments’ broader digital transformation objectives.
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16. Minister Collins has expressed strong interest in the DDL initiative, viewing it as a key step in
modernising government services and improving public outcomes.
Indicative Costs and Funding Options
17. Indicative costs:
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s 9(2)(g)(i)
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s 9(2)(g)(i)
18. The cost excludes broader ecosystem upgrades (e.g. NZTA agents, relying parties), accreditation
under the Trusted Digital Identity Framework, communications, and change support.
Funding Options
s 9(2)(g)(i)
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INFORMATION
Next steps
21. A final assessment of the DDL solution is underway, with a
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NZTA’s Executive Leadership Team in August and NZTA Board for endorsement in September
2025, noting that options for funding are still being explored.
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It is recommended that you:
1.
Note the contents of this briefing
Yes / No
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...........................................................................
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Liz Maguire
Chief Digital Officer
............................................................................
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Hon Chris Bishop, Minister of Transport
Date:
2025
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