New Zealand's legislation on privacy and official information regulates the collection, holding, use and disclosure of personal data. Information about you cannot be given out without your assent.

This means that:

• Your education institution cannot tell anybody else about you or your results; it is up to you to keep your family up to date with your progress.
• Airlines are not allowed to tell anyone the names of passengers on a flight. This makes it difficult for the person meeting you at the airport in cases of flight change.
• Without your specific authority in advance, friends cannot deal with your bank or the Inland Revenue Department on your behalf while you are out of New Zealand.
• You have the right to see information about you that an institution holds.