New Zealand First has called the introduction of digital versions of driver’s licences and other identification an “overreach” – despite supporting a Government bill that would allow their introduction.
All six parties in Parliament supported the Government’s move to introduce digital driver’s licences and WoFs which could be carried on phones when it went before Parliament last month.
But now NZ First leader Winston Peters has unveiled his own proposed legislation on digital IDs.
Peters’ bill, which has virtually no chance of becoming law, would mandate organisations to accept hard copy versions of passports, driver’s licences, 18+ cards and other documents when proof of age or ID is required. There would be fines of up to $50,000 for insisting on digital-only versions.
Peters said today that there was unease that “digital-only systems could become coercive or insecure”.
“Our laws should protect personal choice and privacy, not erode them in the name of digital convenience.”
He said the bill wasn’t “anti-digital” but instead contained “common sense” guardrails against “digital overreach”.
‘Physical licences will continue’
Transport Minister Chris Bishop responded to Peters’ proposal saying it was already covered in the Government’s proposed law.
“The Government’s changes to enable digital driver’s licenses do not do away with physical driver licence cards,” he said.
“We anticipate physical licences will continue to be issued and used for a long time to come. The point of our reforms is to give people the choice so they can use a physical licence card or a digital licence, whichever suits them best.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said last month that digital driver’s licences are a “common sense thing”.
“We’re all using digital wallets to buy products and services across the country,” he said.
Bishop said at the time it would take time to roll digital licences out, but “given New Zealand will be among the first in the world to implement digital driver licences, we need to make sure we get it right”.
Digital licences are already available in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and several US states.
The first reading of the Regulatory Systems (Transport) Amendment Bill, which sought to expand the definition of a driver’s licence to include both electronic and physical versions, passed with support from all parties in the house, including NZ First.
Introducing the bill, Associate Transport Minister James Meager addressed the concerns of those worried about physical IDs becoming redundant. He said it was “important to note” that physical driver’s licences would “always be an option”.