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137: Relationship between subpart 1 and other law relating to information disclosure
or “How information sharing rules work with other laws”

You could also call this:

“Defines key terms for personal information sharing and access”

In this part of the law, you’ll learn about some important words and what they mean when it comes to sharing, accessing, and matching personal information.

An ‘adverse action’ is explained in section 177.

An ‘agency’ is either a public sector agency or a New Zealand private sector agency.

An ‘approved information sharing agreement’ is an agreement that has been approved by an Order in Council and is currently in effect.

A ‘department’ includes government departments, interdepartmental ventures, and some specific agencies like the New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

An ‘information sharing agreement’ is when agencies agree to share personal information (and maybe other information too) to help provide a public service.

A ‘lead agency’ is the main department or organisation responsible for an information sharing agreement.

A ‘local authority’ is a council or public body listed in Schedule 1 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

A ‘New Zealand private sector agency’ is defined in section 7(1).

An ‘Order in Council’ is an order made under section 145(1), except in section 161.

An ‘organisation’ includes bodies listed in certain parts of the Ombudsmen Act 1975 and the Official Information Act 1982.

An ‘overseas agency’ is any agency that’s not a New Zealand agency.

A ‘public sector agency’ is a department, organisation, or local authority.

A ‘public service’ is a job or duty that a public sector agency has to do because of a law or government policy.

The ‘relevant Minister’ is the person in charge of a lead agency.

‘Sharing’ includes collecting, storing, checking, using, disclosing, or exchanging information, as well as giving people unique identifiers if needed.

‘Specified organisations’ are a list of important agencies like the Accident Compensation Corporation, Civil Aviation Authority, and others.

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Next up: 139: Information sharing between agencies

or “Agencies can share your personal information if there's an approved agreement”

Part 7 Sharing, accessing, and matching personal information
Information sharing

138Interpretation

  1. In this subpart, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    adverse action has the meaning given to it in section 177

      agency means a New Zealand agency that is—

      1. a public sector agency; or
        1. a New Zealand private sector agency

          approved information sharing agreement means an information sharing agreement approved by an Order in Council that is for the time being in force

            department

            1. means—
              1. a government department named in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Ombudsmen Act 1975:
                1. an interdepartmental venture:
                  1. a departmental agency hosted by a government department named in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Ombudsmen Act 1975; and
                  2. includes—
                    1. the New Zealand Police:
                      1. the New Zealand Transport Agency

                      information sharing agreement or agreement means an agreement between or within agencies that enables the sharing of personal information (whether or not the sharing also includes information that is not personal information) to facilitate the provision of a public service

                        lead agency means a department, part of a public sector agency that is a department, or specified organisation that enters into an information sharing agreement and is designated as the lead agency in—

                        1. the agreement; and
                          1. the Order in Council approving the agreement

                            local authority means a local authority or public body named or specified in Schedule 1 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987

                              New Zealand private sector agency has the meaning given to it in section 7(1)

                                Order in Council, except in section 161, means an Order in Council made under section 145(1)

                                  organisation means—

                                  1. an organisation named in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Ombudsmen Act 1975; and
                                    1. an organisation named in Schedule 1 of the Official Information Act 1982

                                      overseas agency means an agency that is not a New Zealand agency

                                        public sector agency means a department, an organisation, or a local authority

                                          public service means a public function or duty that is conferred or imposed on a public sector agency—

                                          1. by or under law; or
                                            1. by a policy of the Government

                                              relevant Minister means the Minister who, under the authority of any warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for a lead agency

                                                sharing, in relation to any information referred to in an approved information sharing agreement, means all or any of the following activities if authorised by an approved information sharing agreement:

                                                1. collecting the information:
                                                  1. storing the information:
                                                    1. checking the information:
                                                      1. using the information:
                                                        1. disclosing the information:
                                                          1. exchanging the information:
                                                            1. if necessary, assigning a unique identifier to an individual

                                                              specified organisation means any of the following organisations:

                                                              1. the Accident Compensation Corporation:
                                                                1. the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand:
                                                                  1. Health New Zealand:
                                                                      1. Education New Zealand:
                                                                        1. Fire and Emergency New Zealand:
                                                                          1. Housing New Zealand Corporation:
                                                                            1. the New Zealand Qualifications Authority:
                                                                              1. the Tertiary Education Commission:
                                                                                1. Toka Tū Ake – Natural Hazards Commission:
                                                                                  1. WorkSafe New Zealand.

                                                                                    Compare
                                                                                    Notes
                                                                                    • Section 138 department: replaced, on , by section 127 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
                                                                                    • Section 138 specified organisation paragraph (c): replaced, on , by section 104 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 (2022 No 30).
                                                                                    • Section 138 specified organisation paragraph (d): repealed, on , by section 163 of the Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023 (2023 No 1).
                                                                                    • Section 138 specified organisation paragraph (ia): inserted, on , by section 163 of the Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023 (2023 No 1).
                                                                                    • Section 138 specified organisation paragraph (k): repealed, on , by section 43 of the Pae Ora (Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority) Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 5).