This Government bill amends the Policing Act 2008 to put the Police vetting service — which more than 14,000 approved agencies use, making more than 650,000 requests a year — on a legislative footing, while keeping the service operating in substantially the same way. It sets out the purposes of Police vetting, who can request a vet, what information may be disclosed and in what circumstances, and requires that vetting requests be made with the consent of the person being vetted. It also extends the service: Police must update a vet for a children's worker if the person is later charged with or convicted of a specified offence, agencies can request updated vets with the person's consent, and people in a specified class can request a vet on themselves to share with several agencies at once. The bill is before Parliament, having passed its first reading on the voices on 5 November 2024.
This bill creates a statutory framework for the New Zealand Police vetting service, which currently handles more than 650,000 vetting requests a year from over 14,000 approved agencies to help them assess a person's suitability for particular roles. It sets out consent requirements, updates rules for vetting people who work with children, and allows individuals to request a vet of themselves, with the stated aim of giving the service clear, consistent, and transparent legal direction given its potential impact on the people vetted.
Supporters argue that formalising a long-running service in statute improves fairness, consistency, and privacy protection for the individuals concerned while supporting public safety. Others may examine how consent, accuracy, and correction rights work in practice, and how the framework balances protecting vulnerable groups with the interests of people whose information is disclosed.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.