Privacy statement

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.

Who does this privacy statement apply to?

This privacy statement applies to personal information collected about:

• Clients of Veterans’ Affairs including veterans and other claimants
• Spouses, children, dependents, relatives, next of kin, travel companions, executors and those holding power of attorney of clients
• Individuals authorised by a client
• Medical practitioners and treatment providers
• Members of the public.

What personal information do we collect?

We mainly collect personal information about you when a veteran or other claimant applies for or uses our services or entitlements. We also collect personal information when you engage with us through various channels. The information collected depends on the type of services or entitlements being sought or used.

The personal information we may collect includes:

• Identity details, including name and demographic information
• Relationship information, including marriage, civil union and de facto relationships
• Death information
• Contact details
• Details of an enquiry or complaint
• Financial details, including benefit information
• Service history including medallic records
• Family details
• Medical information including information from ACC and health providers concerning details of service related injuries and illnesses
• Travel details
• Employment information
• Tax information
• Feedback provided to us
• Details about your computer and browser
• Your interactions with our website and emails, including the pages you click
  on and emails you open.

How is your personal information collected?

The majority of personal information is collected directly from you. However, personal information may also be collected from:

• Clients of Veterans’ Affairs
• A party related to the veteran or other claimant such as a personal representative
• Medical practitioners or treatment providers
• Government agencies such as the Ministry for Social Development (MSD), the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and inter-agency from other parts of the New Zealand Defence Force. This includes the collection of information provided under the Veterans' Affairs Approved Information Sharing Agreement (AISA)
• Local councils
• A publicly available source, including social media.

Is it compulsory to provide personal information?

Depending on the service or entitlement being sought or used the provision of personal information may be optional. However, if certain personal information is not provided, we may not be able to provide the services or entitlements sought.

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

How do we use your personal information?

We may use your personal information to:

• Answer your inquiries
• Notify clients of services that they may be eligible for and entitled to access
• Determine and provide clients of Veterans' Affairs with appropriate compensation
• Determine and provide clients of Veterans' Affairs with appropriate funding for rehabilitation and treatment
• Assess or reassess the eligibility and entitlement of clients of Veterans’ Affairs for services or entitlements
• Verify your identity and status as a veteran, other claimant or treatment provider
• Monitor and evaluate the nature, incidence, severity, and consequences of service-related illnesses and injuries
• Provide you with information about services, entitlements, functions, or events
• Deliver and measure the effectiveness of communications we serve to you
  and others
• Undertake research to understand our clients , and making improvements to
  our services or entitlements
• Administer our website, including troubleshooting, data analysis, testing,
  research, security, statistical and survey purposes
• Cleanse and update our records
• Facilitate the monitoring of the operation of the Veterans' Support Act 2014
• Assist in reviews and appeals against decisions regarding services or entitlements
• Meet our legal or compliance obligations
• In other ways, as allowed under the Veterans' Support Act 2014.

How do we use tracking technologies including cookies?

We use cookies for a variety of purposes including to make your online experience more efficient and enjoyable. You may choose which cookies you wish to accept. If you do not accept all cookies, please be aware that you may lose some of the
functionality of the website.

We work with third party suppliers who may also set cookies on our website, for example Google Analytics and Facebook. These third party suppliers are responsible for the cookies they set on our site. If you want further information, please go to the website for the relevant third party.

Who do we share your personal information with?

We may disclose your personal information to:

• Any person you authorise
• A medical practitioner or treatment provider
• An agency that is a party to the Veterans' Affairs Approved Information Sharing Agreement (AISA)
• The Inland Revenue Department (IRD)
• Statistics New Zealand who along with trusted researchers use it to produce statistics and research to benefit New Zealand
• A law enforcement agency or regulatory authority where required under law
• We use Google Analytics to collect information about your browsing habits while using our website. As detailed within Google’s Privacy Policy, Google may share this information publicly and with their partners
• Any other person authorised by applicable law

How is the Veterans’ Approved Information Sharing Agreement currently utilised?

Veterans’ Affairs currently receives personal information under the Veterans' Affairs Approved Information Sharing Agreement (AISA) for the following purposes:

Veterans’ Affairs currently provides personal information under the Veterans' Affairs Approved Information Sharing Agreement (AISA) for the following purposes:

Sharing with other agency partners will be progressively rolled out in the future.

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.

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 ask for a copy of your personal information or request that we correct it. If you would like a copy of your personal information or wish to have it corrected, please contact us.

Have a concern?

If you have a concern, please email us at.

va.communications@nzdf.mil.nz

Alternatively, you have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner(external link).

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.

More information

The following links provide information related to our privacy statement. 

The links are not a part of our privacy statement. 

Veterans' Affairs Approved Information Sharing Agreement (AISA) [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Privacy Act 2020(external link)

Veterans' Support Act 2014(external link)