Privacy
This privacy statement applies to all personal information held by Maritime New Zealand (Maritime NZ) in relation to beacons registration. The collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information by Maritime NZ is subject to the Privacy Act 2020.
Collection, storage and the use of personal information by Maritime NZ
As it is a requirement to register personal locator beacons, the names of beacon holders and their emergency contacts are collected as part of this registration.
To perform its roles and functions under the Maritime Transport Act 1994, Maritime New Zealand is required at times to collect and use personal information.
In accordance with the Privacy Act 2020, Maritime NZ will collect personal information directly from the individual. There may be times when Maritime NZ is permitted by the Privacy Act 2020 to collect personal information from third parties. Maritime NZ may also collect personal information that is publicly available.
The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) as a business unit of Maritime NZ collects the information for the purposes of enabling search and rescue, and providing information to registered beacon holders regarding the registration, testing, safe use, maintenance, auditing and de-registration of such beacons.
RCCNZ collects this information under the Radiocommunications Regulations (General User Radio Licence for Emergency Transmitters) New Zealand Gazette, 23/6/2005, Notice: go3930, reg 3(9).
The information may be passed to other government agencies or organisations assisting in a specific search and rescue response.
Maritime NZ has reasonable safeguards to protect personal information against loss and unauthorised access, use, modification, or disclosure.
See also:
Maritime NZ’s Transparency Statement
Emergency Location Information System
The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) (as part of Maritime NZ) can request Device Location Information (DLI) through the Emergency Location Information System, as a named agency under Schedule 4 of the Telecommunications Information Privacy Code 2020 (TIPC).
The Emergency Location Information System is overseen by Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC), a cross-agency Government entity.
You can find out more about NGCC on their website NGCC | Location Information Services
Device Location Information (DLI)
DLI is automatically generated geographical information about the likely location of a cellular device obtained through the cellular network. This data is provided by your mobile network operator (for all device types) and by supported Android or iOS smartphones. In RCCNZ’s context DLI may be collected from the phone of a person whose location needs to be found, where they are considered to be in danger, even if they haven’t called 111. For example, where someone has called on behalf of someone, to report them as missing or in potential danger.
The provision of DLI is authorised by the Privacy Commissioner, via the Telecommunications Information Privacy Code 2020.
Telecommunications Information Privacy Code 2020
How DLI may be used by RCCNZ
RCCNZ may request DLI when carrying out Search and Rescue functions. If a DLI request is approved, RCCNZ can then collect this information from another location agency (such as Emergency Service Providers) and use and disclose this information for the purpose of search and rescue within New Zealand’s search and rescue region, to prevent or lessen a serious threat to the life or health of any person.
After any search and rescue event is completed, RCCNZ will retain DLI within the RCCNZ Incident Log for the purpose of maintaining a record of the information used to establish the location of the emergency.
RCCNZ will not retain this information longer than is permitted by the TIPC.
For more details about this please visit About the DLI Service | NGCC
For more information about how to make a complaint please visit Our standards of service
Disclosure of personal information by Maritime NZ
Maritime NZ only discloses personal information to third parties when authorised by the individual or permitted by the Privacy Act 2020 or otherwise required or permitted by law.
Accessing personal information
You have the right to request access to personal information about you held by Maritime NZ under the Privacy Act 2020.
You also have the right to request correction of any personal information held about you by Maritime NZ. Maritime NZ will take reasonable steps to correct that information and to ensure that the information we hold is correct.
If you wish to access or correct personal information Maritime NZ holds about you, please contact:
The Privacy Officer
Maritime New Zealand
PO Box 25620
Wellington 6140
or by phone on +64 4 473 0111
Other information
For further information on the Privacy Act 2020 please see the Privacy Commissioner’s website www.privacy.org.nz
We may update this privacy statement from time to time: This statement was last updated in October 2021.