28814 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for the Public Service and Digitising Government

28814 (2026). Camilla Belich to the Minister for the Public Service and Digitising Government: What protections will be available to current and former Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment staff who provide information to the Public Service Commission's investigation into the Biometric Capability Update (BCU) project?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: The Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche announced that he will investigate integrity concerns surrounding the failure of the Biometric Capability Update (BCU) project. The Commissioner has stated that the integrity matters highlighted by the report are serious and concerning. They go to the core of the behaviours and ethics required of public servants, and the ability of Ministers to have confidence in the advice they receive from officials. And at the request of the Minister of Immigration, the Commissioner will also look into the broader Our Future Services immigration transformation programme to provide assurance that the advice the Minister has received is accurate and can be relied upon. The Commissioner has appointed Mike Heron KC to head the Inquiry into the conduct of officials linked to a failed multi-million dollar technology project – including whether they may have withheld information and misled Ministers. The Commissioner’s media statement and full terms of reference for the Inquiry are publicly available on the Commission’s website at the following link: https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/news/michael-heron-kc-to-investigate-claims-officials-misled-ministers