The new Ministry of Health NZ COVID Tracer app has been approved by the Privacy Commissioner John Edwards.

The ministry says fast and effective contact tracing is essential to stopping any further spread of COVID-19 in New Zealand, and the NZ COVID Tracer supports this by creating a digital diary of the places people visit.

Mr Edwards says the app is a privacy-friendly solution for contact tracing which New Zealanders should feel secure in downloading and using. He says the ministry consulted his office during the development of the app and conducted a privacy impact assessment.

“I want to assure New Zealanders that this app was created using Privacy by Design principles which put privacy at the foundation of the process.

“Contact tracing apps are an emerging technology for tracking and managing pandemics. For them to work well, a high percentage of the population needs to use them. The more people who use them, the more effective they will be,” says Mr Edwards.

The information collected by the app is held for public health purposes only and not shared with any agencies other than for contact tracing purposes.

You can read the privacy impact assessment here.