Prime Minister John Key: 10-year passports in six months (New Zealand Herald)
New Zealand moved to five-year passports in 2005 in response to security concerns sparked by the 2001 terrorist attacks in the US…
In addition, developments in biometric technology have allayed concerns about passport fraud and counterfeiting.
2013 is just over half complete but I just don’t see how this one can be topped:
Thanks are due the New Zealand Customs Service both for contributions to security, and for advancements in the art of the press release.
Govt-backed online identity system – ‘RealMe’ ready to go (Scoop)
From this week, New Zealanders can begin signing up for RealMe – the only online identity verification service backed by the New Zealand government.
Instead of waiting in line with paper identity documents each time they want a service requiring ID from a government or private sector organisation, people will soon be able to prove their identity online with RealMe and apply for services from home.
New Zealand seems to be quietly building a very advanced ID infrastructure that links government identity documents, government services and the postal service together through biometrics, facial recognition in this case.
The US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand (Five Country Conference) share information, including biometrics, on foreign visitors. Reading between the lines of the article linked below, they appear to hitting their stride.
Biometrics has “just completely changed the way we do business,” DHS director of US-VISIT. (Fierce Homeland Security)
See also:
Privacy Impact Assessment for the US-VISIT Five Country Joint Enrollment and Information-Sharing Project (2009 pdf at DHS.gov)
Checks reveal 65 false passports (The New Zealand Herald)
Of the 65 suspected false passports discovered by the DIA, 30 cases have been sent to the police national headquarters.
Of those, 21 were referred to relevant police districts for follow up. Five have been convicted, three are before the courts, two have been filed and 11 remain under investigation.
In the five cases prosecuted, eight people were convicted on a range of charges, with sentences ranging from conviction and discharge up to several months’ home detention.
When it comes to faking their passports, Kiwis don’t play.
Sex teacher report a ‘serious wake up call’ – Parata (TVNZ)
Education Minister Hekia Parata released the findings of a Ministerial Inquiry today which outlines 35 recommendations to close the “significant gap” in the employment process for hiring teachers.
The recommendations include a police check for anyone who moves from a provisional teaching license to full registration and teachers informing schools if they change their name.
The Government is also considering making teachers use biometric photo identification when they switch schools.
The inquiry was ordered earlier this year after it was revealed sex offender Te Rito Henry Miki, 40, managed to work in six schools over four years despite a supervision order that prevented him from coming into contact with children.
See also:
One in Six Sex Offenders Lives Digital Double Life
The post dealing with the above article and the issues it raises is:
ID Isn’t Perfect. How Perfect Can (or Should) It Be?