Office of the Privacy Commissioner, New Zealand

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner New Zealand works to develop and promote a culture in which personal information is protected and respected. The Privacy Commissioner administers the Privacy Act 1993. The Privacy Act applies to almost every person, business or organisation in New Zealand. The Act sets out 12 privacy principles that guide how personal information can be collected, used, stored and disclosed. To find out more about privacy and what it involves, see www.privacy.org.nz The Privacy Commissioner's Office has a wide range of functions. Some of these include investigating complaints about breaches of privacy, raising public awareness, and examining proposed legislation and how it may affect individual privacy. The Office is an independent Crown Entity and was set up in 1993.