DISTF Legislation

The Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill (the Bill) was introduced to Parliament on September 29th 2021, completed its First Reading on October 19th 2021, with the Select Committee accepting submissions on the Bill until December 2nd 2021. It is anticipated that the Select Committee will report back to Parliament prior to June 2022. The goal of the Bill is to set the standard for digital identity services in New Zealand, ensuring that all users have a safe and secure way of connecting with government and non-government services online. The trust framework, established through this Bill, will allow businesses to take advantage of a consistent approach to digital identity services so that they can maximise the use of them.

The Bill establishes:

• an opt-in accreditation scheme for service providers who can demonstrate they can meet the Trust Framework rules, currently under development;
• a governance board, within an existing public service department, responsible for reviewing and recommending changes to the Trust Framework’s rules, including taking into account the views of stakeholders (including groups with expertise in te ao Māori approaches to identity);
• a Māori Advisory Group to provide advice, to the governance board on Māori interests;
• the ability for the board to establish committees of advisors (from both the public and non-public sectors) to give advice and make reports to the board; and
• an accreditation authority within an existing public service department – both to accredit organisations against the rules, and to monitor and enforce compliance.

Attribution: Content substantially taken from an email from the Department of Internal Affairs, shared with DINZ members on October 15th 2021.

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