Tuia 250 Voyage trainee Privacy issue

Identity Documents – Questions and Answers

Passport and birth certificate information has been uploaded by applicants. Why was it necessary to do this to register for the programme?

MCH asked for personal identity to support people’s applications for the Tuia250 Trainee programme.  In many cases the information provided by applicants was passport and birth certificate information.  

Does this privacy breach indicate a problem of security with the New Zealand passport or birth certificates?

No. This is a serious and regrettable digital security breach due to applicant information not being held securely on an external site established for the Tuia 250 Voyage trainee programme. It is the personal data and information from passports, birth certificates and other identity information that has been compromised, not the DIA systems or documents. 

New Zealand passports

If my passport information was submitted what is the risk?

No person other than you can use your passport so there is no risk of anyone using your passport. There is a small risk that someone might use the data from your passport fraudulently (which you submitted as part of the registration process). 

What can be done to mitigate this risk?

Your current passport can be cancelled and replaced at no cost. Applicants have been offered this option when we contacted them to advise them of the digital privacy breach. If you have not yet been contacted or wanted to consider this option and are now ready to proceed you can contact us on 0800 22 50 50.

If you have travel booked on current passport you will need to update the details with your travel agent or airline with the new passport information. 

What can be done if I provided foreign passport information?

You need to contact your local Embassy, High Commission or Consulate for a replacement passport. The New Zealand Government will refund the cost of the replacement passport so please retain your receipt. Your New Zealand visa will need to be transferred to your new passport by contacting Immigration New Zealand once you have received your replacement passport so again retain your receipt.

You can contact Immigration New Zealand through their contact centre at 0508 558 855 or +64 9 914 4100 or www.immigration.govt.nz

New Zealand birth certificates

If my birth certificate information was submitted what is the risk?

There is a small risk that someone might use the information from your birth certificate fraudulently (which you submitted as part of the registration process).

 What can be done to mitigate this risk?

We are not replacing birth certificates because information on every copy of a birth certificate is the same. A reissued copy would have the same information on it as the details you provided as part of the registration process so reissuing it won’t provide any additional privacy protection.

New Zealand Driver licence

What happens if I used my driver licence to submit my registration?

New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) can reissue you a replacement at no cost within 10 days and post you a temporary licence immediately.

You can contact NZTA on 0800 822 422 if you want a replacement or have any questions.

 

 

- You can see the Ministry for Culture and Heritage media release https://mch.govt.nz/privacy-breach-identified-tuia-250-voyage-trainee-website