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Summarised by Centrist
An inquiry by the Public Service Commission found that government agencies failed to safeguard personal Census and COVID vaccination data collected at Manurewa Marae, creating a risk of misuse to target Māori voters in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Stats NZ chief executive Mark Sowden will not seek reappointment next month amid the fallout. Multiple agencies have been ordered to suspend contracts with Te Pou Matakana, the Waipareira Trust, and Manurewa Marae until further notice.
The investigation was triggered by allegations that confidential data was misused. While the inquiry focused on data security failures, concerns remain as former Manurewa Marae CEO Takutai Tarsh Kemp narrowly won the Tāmaki Makaurau seat for Te Pāti Māori.
The report found that Stats NZ failed to implement safeguards, allowing third parties to collect personal data without proper privacy protections. While it did not examine electoral interference, it flagged serious risks of conflicts of interest and improper data use.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins called the report a warning shot, saying the election result “raised questions” and could harm New Zealand’s reputation for fair elections.
“The fact that the polling booth was held at Manurewa Marae, with a very active Māori Party presence, really did draw into question the result,” he said.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon condemned the findings as a shocking breach of public trust, calling it a “very big wake-up call” for government agencies.
The Privacy Commissioner is now investigating whether personal data from Manurewa Marae was misused for political purposes.
