‘Falling behind’: Calls to overhaul Privacy Act after health data hack

Manage My Health says it is not liable for any security breach. (Image: Michael Craig)

Fri, 09 Jan 2026

Experts are calling for changes to New Zealand's privacy laws and penalties amid concerns that companies are not taking cybersecurity seriously, following the Manage My Health data breach. The Deputy Privacy Commissioner, a leading lawyer, and an IT consultant all told BusinessDesk they think NZ’s Privacy Act needs to be changed. Deputy Privacy Commissioner Liz MacPherson told BusinessDesk that the current legal framework is outdated and ineffective. “New Zealand’s privacy regime is falling further behind .....

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