6971 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Economic Growth

6971 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Economic Growth: What New Zealanders' data, if any, is shared by the Minister's department, if any, with any US government department?

Hon Nicola Willis: I have interpreted the Member’s question and the use of the term “New Zealanders” as referring to the sharing of personal information of New Zealand citizens in line with the information privacy principles in the Privacy Act 2020. In general, MBIE does not routinely share data or personal information about New Zealanders with the US Government. In some specific cases, MBIE might consider disclosing information on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature, use and purpose of a request, for example, the maintenance of the law. In the event the US Government requests data from MBIE for the maintenance of the law, MBIE would assess and establish if it is necessary to redirect the US Government to the appropriate New Zealand Government agency such as the New Zealand Police, or the Department of Internal Affairs to obtain the information. There are also some specific internal instances where information on New Zealand citizens might be shared with the US Government. For example, where MBIE staff are assigned or posted to work at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC, or where MBIE staff are part of an official delegation for an event. This could include the names and roles of the MBIE staff. Similarly, in the international science partnership space, there may be instances where names of New Zealand citizens are shared with the US Government, for example when discussing research programmes. Immigration New Zealand routinely exchanges data regarding non-New Zealand citizens with the US under bilateral data sharing arrangements between the two countries. This includes but is not limited to personal information (for the purpose of administering immigration laws or to support a specific ongoing immigration case or investigation), policy documents and best practices, procedures, trend analysis and statistical data.