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Immigration Act 2009

Core provisions and matters in relation to decision making - Automated decision making and biometric information

29A: Use of automated system to confirm New Zealand citizenship

You could also call this:

“Government can use computers to check NZ citizenship, but must offer human option too”

The government can use a computer system to check if you are a New Zealand citizen. This system uses rules set by the chief executive to make this decision. However, there must always be another way to check your citizenship that involves a real person.

If the computer system is used to confirm your citizenship, it’s treated the same as if a person had made the decision. This means the computer’s decision is just as official as one made by a human.

Remember, even though the computer can make decisions, there will always be a way for a real person to check your citizenship if needed.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6471301.

Topics:
Immigration and citizenship > Becoming a citizen
Government and voting > Government departments
Rights and equality > Privacy
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Part 2 Core provisions and matters in relation to decision making
Automated decision making and biometric information

29AUse of automated system to confirm New Zealand citizenship

  1. An automated electronic system that applies criteria predetermined by the chief executive may be used, for the purposes of this Act, to confirm a person's status as a New Zealand citizen.

  2. The automated electronic system may be used to confirm a person's status as a New Zealand citizen only if there is available at least 1 other way of confirming the person's status, and that other way involves confirmation by a person.

  3. A determination made using an automated electronic system must for all purposes be treated as a determination made by a person who is authorised to make the determination under this Act.

Notes
  • Section 29A: inserted, on , by section 13 of the Immigration Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 48).