Nau mai, haere mai

Your privacy is precious; let us help you protect it.

Privacy Week: see slides and recordings
Survey: public concern about privacy remains high
IPP3A and Schedule 4 of the TIPC: have your say
Using AI to contact us?
Use our response calculator
Send an enquiry
Lodge a privacy issue with another agency
Notify Us of a breach
Make a privacy complaint
What's new on the website?

Using AI to contact us?

Using AI to write us emails seems like a fast and easy way to get a job done. However, lots of people are making mistakes doing this, which is slowing down our ability to help with their complaints.

Our Office aims to resolve privacy concerns. To do this, we need to understand, in your own words, what has gone wrong for you, how that’s affected you, and what you want to happen.

Read our tips about using AI to contact us.

Make a privacy complaint

We're keen to work with New Zealanders to get their privacy queries and complaints sorted quickly and fairly. Before you complain to us, you need to complain directly to the business or organisation that you feel has breached your privacy.

If you haven’t been able to work out your privacy issue with them, then you can complain to us. We aim to ensure that you're treated fairly, whatever your background or circumstances. We work in accordance with the Human Rights Act 1993.

Read our tips about using AI to contact us
Lodge a privacy issue with another agency(external link).
Use our Response Date Calculator for access and correction requests.
Answer your questions about privacy breaches.
Fill in our online enquiry form.
Make a privacy complaint to us(external link).

We review all the complaints we receive. If we can resolve them quickly, we will. If your case requires a complicated or comprehensive investigation, then owing to high volumes, the wait time for an investigator is up to six months.

Privacy Amendment Bill: what you need to know

UPDATE: we are seeking feedback on our draft guidance. We’re listening between 30 April – 25 June 2025. Read more about giving feedback.

Parliament has indicated that IPP3A will come into force on 1 May 2026, and all organisations will need to have their systems in place to meet the new requirements by then. We’re aiming to have the guidance developed and published on our website to allow organisations plenty of time to implement the requirements of the new Act.

Agencies: report a data breach

If you're an organisation and have a privacy breach that is likely to cause anyone serious harm, you are legally required to notify us and any affected persons as soon as you can.

As a guide, our expectation is that a breach notification should be made to our Office no later than 72 hours after agencies are aware of a notifiable privacy breach. Work out whether you need to notify us.

How long is 72 hours(external link)?

Do I need to notify my privacy breach(external link)?

Notify Us of a privacy breach

Use our free e-learning tools

We can help you and your workmates learn about privacy, or sharpen your skills with our free e-learning tools. There are 10 free courses to choose from, and they are all run as online learning modules. Learn at your own pace and receive a certificate of completion.

Topics range from Privacy 101 to specialist topics like health and education. You can learn more about reporting privacy breaches, approved information sharing agreements (AISA) and more.

Get learning with our e-learning modules(external link).

Our news and views

Read our latest media releases and news.

Subscribe to Privacy News, our free monthly newsletter.

See case notes and court decisions.

Order free brochures for your customers or clients.

Come and work with us

When you work here you’re serving New Zealanders and their right to privacy. We’re a small but mighty Office full of well-read people who are interested in the world and what happens in it. Kindness matters here, which creates a great place to work. Find out more about working here, check for vacancies, and read about our recruitment process.