6990 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Economic Growth

6990 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Economic Growth: What protections, if any, exist in the Minister's department, if any, to prevent New Zealanders' information shared with US government departments, if any, being shared with third parties?

Hon Nicola Willis: MBIE has policies and processes that implement privacy and security protections in relation to the sharing of information. For example, the New Zealand Information Security Manual and privacy impact assessment process. When considering the sharing of personal information, MBIE implements a range of standard security mechanisms, from terms in arrangements relating to limitations on access and express requirements for non-disclosure/confidentiality. For case-by-case, ad-hoc disclosures, MBIE specifies a range of reasonable safeguards consistent with MBIE’s information security and privacy obligations policies and processes. These safeguards generally include a confidentiality/non-disclosure requirement, and in the event of legal obligation to disclose information held by MBIE, a notice requirement enables MBIE to comment and take any steps it considers appropriate.