Health New Zealand (HNZ) is urgently overhauling its contracts after an inquiry revealed that it had no power to audit or monitor the misuse of sensitive health data, leaving personal information vulnerable.
The Manurewa Marae inquiry exposed systemic failures, including the lack of controls over downloaded data, no conflict-of-interest safeguards, and a failure to ensure compliance with privacy laws.
Despite repeated government assurances about data security, HNZ only realised these weaknesses after an external probe.
The inquiry’s findings have triggered heightened accountability across the public sector, with other government agencies now under scrutiny for similar lapses.
In response, HNZ is implementing stronger auditing powers and compliance checks within six months, as a new government-wide information-sharing standard is set to take effect in July.
Image credit: Getty Images
“Despite repeated government assurances about data security, HNZ only realized these weaknesses after an external probe”.
Yeah right. Lying like Israel, AGAIN.
They are crap, staff are also.
Hire Maori only analyst and then data is leaked that helps TPM get voter health information. yeah right. This was planned, and deliberate.
All too often they fob people off with assurances that are never carried out. No wonder we don’t trust them.