Internal Affairs seeks new 'face capture solution'
Photo:
123RF
Internal Affairs (DIA) says the latest biometric technology it is after does not involve facial recognition.
It has put out a new tender for a "new genuine face capture solution", saying this was about getting new online technology that helped people take a good selfie when applying for a passport, or for RealMe verification.
"DIA is not seeking a facial recognition solution," it said.
"We are talking about online technology capable of capturing high-quality, genuine images."
A tender document said biometric spoofing was becoming more sophisticated and it needed a supplier who could handle the growing threat.
Its existing tech forced staff to manually review people's photos, and it needed to simplify that and cut costs, it said.
A selfie is typically fed into existing systems that already use facial recognition, such as the department's Identity Check service.
"Biometric technologies underpin our ability to provide fast, secure and efficient identity verification," DIA said.
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Otago Daily Times
26-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
‘Scary' 30% rates rise on cards
Councillors hear an update on Local Water Done Well proposals at a workshop this week. PHOTOS: ANDREW ASHTON Ratepayers could face a "scary" 30% rates rise in just two years if the Waitaki District Council's plans for an in-house water services unit are accepted. That was the stark reality laid out for councillors at a workshop this week to plan how to move forward from a decision two weeks ago to opt out of a joint water entity with three other Otago councils. Mayor Gary Kircher said he and the rest of the council were committed to making the best of that decision, which now involved sending a draft plan to the government by the end of July, before a full water services delivery plan (WSDP) was presented to the Department of Internal Affairs in September as required by the government's Local Water Done Well legislation. "We have to make sure that we do set up our in-house option as best as possible and I won't tolerate anyone undermining that." However, the size and cost of that was put into perspective by two Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) representatives at the workshop. They reiterated their points from a previous meeting that the in-house model would have to meet the government's financial stability rules for a period of 10 years, even if the plan involved a joint venture with other authorities before then. The in-house model would have to stand on its own merits for a 10-year period for assessment purposes. If those rules were not quite met, a facilitator could be appointed to work alongside the council to help the plan meet the targets. Department of Internal Affairs representatives Marlon Bridge (left) and Warren Ulusele at the workshop. The other, "more intrusive" option was to send in "the specialist", DIA representative Warren Ulusele said. "That person is appointed in the council, they make decisions on behalf of the council. They can look up across the council finances, potentially look to redirect funding from other purposes and redirect it back into Three Waters investment. "They can look at the revenue streams and determine that they need to go up. So I point that out, not in a threatening way, but just to be absolutely clear about this conversation around control and that's concern, again, not just this council, consultation across the country and it's understandable. "That person is appointed by the minister with one objective and that is to develop a financially sustainable plan. They will look to do that as quickly as possible and their focus is meeting growth. So they're not looking across the range of responsibilities you have, the range of considerations you have." WDC chief financial officer Amanda Nicholls then laid out the council's finances saying they would look "scary" at this stage of the process, pointing out external debt per rateable property would significantly exceed the benchmark of $4000, while debt continued to grow over the years. However, it would require a rate rise of about 25.61 % in the 2028 LTP year to fund the in-house unit, and then rate rises of about 4% for each of the following years. All those rises and the 2028 rise could also increase by a further 5% if the council, as was likely, was required to fund depreciation of water assets. When it came to council debt, the workshop heard the WDC would breach its debt cap in 2035 and every year thereafter, potentially requiring further rate rises to lower it. Two weeks ago, Waitaki district councillors voted to exit the Southern Water Done Well partnership with Clutha, Central Otago and Gore in favour of an in-house water services delivery unit. The joint arrangement was previously the council's preferred option before it was put to public consultation. Public consultation across the four councils drew in over 1000 submission with the in-house business unit model the preferred option in Waitaki (54%) and Clutha, while only 26.7% supported the joint entity, most popular in Gore and Central Otago. Prior to that the Department of Internal Affairs said joining a four-way, multi-district water company was the "only viable option" for the district. The DIA representatives this week said they had heard nothing to allay their "concerns" over the council's chosen path, saying they could not see a pathway for the council to develop a plan that was credible. "Hopefully, it'll come to light as you uncover more of what information discloses as you put more of the facts into the equation." The council intends to hold weekly public workshops, videos of which will be posted on its website, every Tuesday this month to keep people up to date with progress. A recording of this week's meeting, with chapter points for each section, the presentation given by the council's finance team, and the letter from the DIA are all available on the council website. "Council encourages the community to watch the videos, read the presentation and the letter from the DIA to be fully informed about the development of the WSDP," a council statement said.
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Scoop
Waimakariri In-House Water Plan Approved
Waimakariri's water services structure has been given the green light. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has given the tick of approval to the Waimakariri District Council's water services delivery plan, which will see the council beef-up its in-house business unit in line with the Government's Local Water Done Well legislation. Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said the decision was good news for the district, after the council consulted on its water services delivery plan as part of its annual plan consultation. The council received 764 submissions on the topic, with 97 percent in support of the council's preferred option. Mr Gordon said the council has invested in its water infrastructure over a number of years, which meant it was not going to face the same costs for upgrades as other councils were facing. ''Because of this, modelling of future costs has shown that in the first 10 years the best model for Waimakariri is an internal business unit. ''This provides certainty for the community and through a business unit we retain effective control and influence, which is what is important to the community.'' The council operates six urban drinking water schemes and five rural drinking water schemes, servicing around 21,500 urban, rural and commercial properties. It also operates two wastewater schemes serving around 18,800 properties, and five urban and seven rural stormwater drainage areas. Council staff said more than $100m has been invested in the district's water infrastructure over the last 20 years. The waters service delivery plan outlines the steps the council will make over the next 12 to 24 months to ensure the structure is aligned with the new legislation, with fully ring-fenced financials for drinking water and wastewater. Mr Gordon said the council has established operational relationships with the Hurunui and Kaikōura councils, and remains open to expanding these shared service arrangements. The Hurunui and Kaikōura district councils voted separately in May to form a joint water services council controlled organisation (CCO) in line with the Government's Local Water Done Well legislation. The two councils have now prepared a memorandum of understanding and a draft water services delivery plan which will be presented to their respective council meetings next week. The councils have both said the door remains open to Waimakariri joining their CCO. The Hurunui council supplies water to households in the Ashley and Loburn areas, while Waimakariri offers design and IT services to the Hurunui and Kaikōura councils' water units when needed. Under the legislation, councils are required to submit water services delivery plans to the DIA by September 3. Once a plan has been approved, councils have until June 30, 2028, to demonstrate they are financially sustainable.
NZ Herald
22-07-2025
- NZ Herald
SkyCity applies for 15-year Queenstown casino licence renewal
New Zealand Police backed the licence renewal, citing people and companies with influence over the operations, submitted with the application. That named SkyCity chairman Julian Cook, CEO Jason Walbridge, general counsel and company secretary Jo Wong, director Katherine Hughes, corporation communications chief Nirupa George, COO Callum Mallett, SkyCity Entertainment Group and SkyCity Casino Management. SkyCity chair Julian Cook. Photo / Cameron Pitney 'There are no relevant matters that should be brought to the attention of the Gambling Commission in relation to these people from Queenstown Casinos,' the police submission said of the longer list which named others too. Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs said Queenstown is New Zealand's smallest casino. Management followed the same harm minimisation procedures implemented in SkyCity Auckland Casino. Due to its limited size, it had only a small number of gaming machines and tables which afforded most staff a clear line of sight to almost all visitors, the department said. This contributed to more effective oversight and adherence to identifying and responding to gambling harm signs. SkyCity will report its full year result in August. The casino generated relatively low revenue, especially since Covid and the end of junkets, Internal Affairs noted. Internal Affairs had no compliance concerns over the operation, which has now introduced carded play. Staff from there visit every three months and found the casino management to be responsive to any matters raised. Interviews with staff showed they had a clear understanding of harm prevention and minimisation, and the department received few complaints about the casino, it said. The department did standard checks of people and companies identified as having a significant influence. That included checking its own internal databases, New Zealand Companies Office records, insolvency, credit and NZ Police checks. 'We have not identified any matters of concern relating to the suitability of any of these persons,' the department said. Nor did the Companies Office or the Insolvency and Trustee Service raise any concerns about the people of influence named in the application. Queenstown has New Zealand's smallest casino. Photo / NZME The casino's host responsibility programme showed it aimed to prevent problem gambling and provide effective staff training. The licence expires in December, so if it is renewed it will run until 2040. Amanda Youell, Queenstown general manager, told the Herald independent experts did a social and economic impact assessment for the renewal application. SkyCity casinos are in Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown and Adelaide. In February, the first conferences are due to be held at its $1 billion-plus NZ International Convention Centre in Auckland. The Gambling Commission has also posted details of licence renewal applications by the Dunedin and Christchurch casinos. Last year, SkyCity shut its Auckland casino for five days after an Internal Affairs prosecution for breaches of host responsibility during five years. The shutdown cost the casino an estimated $1 million a day, and was the first voluntary casino closure in New Zealand history. The company said it reached an agreement with the secretary for Internal Affairs to resolve an application to temporarily suspend its casino operator's licence. Next month, the company will announce its full-year result to June 30, 2025. Last year, it made a $143.3m net loss after tax, citing a tough operating environment. Chief executive Jason Walbridge referred to 'a very challenging financial year'. He said a soft economy, cost-of-living pressures here and in Australia and various regulatory matters had impacted the business. That result was for the year to June 30, 2024. Anne Gibson has been the Herald's property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.
