At launch, NZ Verify supports select international digital credentials, including mobile driver’s licences from Queensland (Australia) and several U.S. states such as California, New York, and Ohio. Government officials have indicated that support for additional jurisdictions will be added over time, making the app increasingly useful for inbound travelers.
“We’re pleased to see that the Government has invested in this solution that supports businesses managing identity checks,” said Steve Armitage, Chief Executive of Hospitality New Zealand. “Being a government-led tool provides confidence that digital identification will be recognised across other government agencies, and its user-friendly cost-free model encourages widespread adoption across venues and accommodation.”
Government ministers have emphasized the app’s alignment with privacy and tourism goals. Minister of Internal Affairs Judith Collins noted that the app “ensures individuals can control what they share and with whom,” while Minister for Social Development Louise Upston called the tool a “boost for tourism operators” seeking modern, secure methods of verifying guest identity.
To ensure user privacy, the app does not store any personally identifiable information. Instead, it grants businesses access only to data that individuals explicitly choose to share. The Department of Internal Affairs has stated that NZ Verify adheres to the standards outlined in the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework, which governs security, privacy, and consent practices across New Zealand’s digital identity ecosystem. The app’s privacy protections are also expected to align with the country’s forthcoming biometrics code, which will introduce new safeguards around biometric and digital identification systems.
Hospitality New Zealand, which manages the Kiwi Access Card, is exploring integration of digital credentials to create a digitized version of the card compatible with NZ Verify. The Department of Internal Affairs plans to showcase the app at Hospitality New Zealand’s annual conference in June to support adoption across the sector.
Currently available on the New Zealand Apple Store, with a Google Play release forthcoming, NZ Verify is expected to reduce administrative burdens for businesses while giving users a more convenient and secure method for proving their identity. Initial use cases focus on car rental and hotel check-in, where visitors with supported mobile driver’s licences can now verify their identity in seconds using their phones.
Sources: OpenGov Asia, Scoop, Hotel Magazine
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May 13, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
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