This page is about a bill. That means that it's not the law yet, but some people want it to be the law. It could change quickly, and some of the information is just a draft.

Offshore Renewable Energy Bill

Administration and enforcement - Administration - Registers, records, and use of information

116: Use and disclosure of information

You could also call this:

"Who can see and share information given under this law, and when"

Illustration for Offshore Renewable Energy Bill

The Minister, the chief executive, or any enforcement officer can use information given under this proposed law to do their job. They can use this information to perform their duties or exercise their powers. You should know that this information can be about anyone.

If the Minister, the chief executive, or any enforcement officer thinks some information is commercially sensitive or personal, they must not share it unless it is for a specific reason. This reason could be to do their job, or if the information is already publicly available.

They can also share the information if the person it is about agrees, or if they need to share it for a court case or investigation. The information can also be shared if another law says they have to, or if this proposed law allows them to.

If a court orders them to share the information, they must do so. They can also share the information with an agency under section 118.

When we talk about personal information, we mean what is defined in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020.

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This page was last updated on 29 June 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS992295.

115: Permit holder must keep records, or

"Keep records of your offshore renewable energy work if you have a permit"

117: Chief executive may publish certain feasibility data, or

"The boss can share some information about offshore energy projects with the public."

Part 4Administration and enforcement
Administration: Registers, records, and use of information

116Use and disclosure of information

The Minister, the chief executive, or any enforcement officer may use any information supplied under this Act for the purpose of performing or exercising any function, duty, or power conferred on a person under this Act.
However, if the Minister, the chief executive, or any enforcement officer considers that any information, in relation to any person, is commercially sensitive information or personal information, the Minister, chief executive, or enforcement officer must not disclose that information unless—
the disclosure is for the purposes of, or in connection with, the performance or exercise of any function, duty, or power conferred or imposed by or under this Act on the Minister, the chief executive, or any enforcement officer; or
the information is publicly available; or
the disclosure is with the consent of the person to whom the information relates, or to whom the information is confidential; or
the disclosure is in connection with proceedings, or any investigation or inquiry for proceedings, for an offence against this Act or any other legislation; or
disclosure is required by other legislation; or
disclosure is authorised under this Act; or
disclosure is required by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
the information is disclosed to an agency under section 118.

In this section, personal information has the meaning set out in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020.