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Privacy statement

We know your privacy is important to you. Handling your information with care and respect is important to us, too.
The content on this page also acts as our Privacy Statement for Forms.

Who is Veterans’ Affairs?

We are a unit of the New Zealand Defence Force established under section 198 of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014. Our functions are set out in this Act. We are based in Wellington, New Zealand.

When does this privacy statement apply?

This privacy statement applies to the personal information we collect from veterans and other claimants (the spouse, partner, children, dependants and those who provide non-professional support to veterans) who have coverage under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014.

What are the purposes for which we collect personal information, and why?

The purposes for which Veterans’ Affairs may collect personal information are to:

Notify an individual of services that they may be eligible for and entitled to access;
Enable an individual’s identity and status as a veteran or other claimant to be verified;
Assess or reassess the eligibility and entitlement of a veteran or other claimant for services;
Facilitate rehabilitation and treatment of a veteran;
Cleanse and update records of a veteran or other claimant, and
Assist in reviews and appeals against decisions regarding services.

We may also collect personal information for the following purposes under section 213 of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014:

For the provision of appropriate compensation;
For the provision of appropriate rehabilitation and treatment;
To enable a comprehensive claims database to be maintained;
To monitor and evaluate the nature, incidence, severity, and consequences of service-related illnesses and injuries;
For policy development under the Act;
To facilitate the monitoring of the operation of the Veterans' Support Act 2014;
For the retention of personal information for the purposes of the Public Records Act 2005.

We also collect information from other sources about you for the above purposes in accordance with an Approved Information-sharing Agreement (AISA) made under the Privacy Act 2020 or otherwise.

The agencies are located at their official business addresses.

ACC
Corrections
Customs
DIA and Registrar-General (eg birth, death, marriage, and other register information and passport information)
Health agencies
IRD
Ministry of Education
MSD
New Zealand Defence Force (eg service and medical records, and medallic records).

The collection of personal information (medical and other records) from you is required by law under section 27 of the Act.

Provision of personal information is compulsory where you are applying for an entitlement under the Veterans’ Support Act 2014. The consequences of non-compliance will be the closure of the application for that entitlement.
Personal information will be voluntarily given where you choose to use the Check Your Eligibility tool or registration form on our website.

Who do we share your personal information with?

We may disclose your personal information to:

A medical practitioner or treatment provider
An agency that is a party to the AISA
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD)
a law enforcement agency or regulatory authority where required under law
any other person authorised by applicable law.

How do we secure your information?

Your personal information is held in a controlled and secure environment. We use appropriate technical, organisational and administrative security measures to protect any information we hold from loss, misuse, and unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration and destruction.

Information you provide via user-submitted forms on our website is protected by AES-256 encryption.

How long do we keep your information?

We only keep your personal information for as long as it is required in compliance with the requirements of the Public Records Act 2005.

What are your rights?

You have the right to access and correct information and to make a complaint.

Access and correction:
- If you would like a copy of your personal information or wish to have it corrected, please contact us.
Complaints:
- You can complain by emailing us at va.communications@nzdf.mil.nz
- You also have the right to make a complaint to the New Zealand Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Information about how to lodge a complaint is available on the Privacy Commissioner’s website.

Will this privacy statement change?

We may change this privacy statement in the future. Any changes will be updated here and, where appropriate, notified to you. We advise you to check back frequently to see any updates or changes.