DINZ - Digital Identity New Zealand

Digital Identity New Zealand (DINZ) is a purpose-driven consortium established in 2018 as part of the NZ Tech Alliance to promote and develop digital identity solutions in New Zealand. The organization brings together over 100 members including government agencies, private organizations, and identity innovators to advance digital identity initiatives while promoting open standards and policies that enable innovation.

A key focus of DINZ has been supporting the development and implementation of the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework (DISTF), which provides rules and standards for digital identity services in New Zealand. The consortium actively contributes to policy discussions around emerging technologies like biometrics, decentralized identity systems, and identity-centric security. Notable initiatives include providing feedback on open banking regulations through its Policy and Regulatory Subcommittee and hosting industry discussions on topics like facial recognition implementation in retail environments.

The organization operates through several working groups, including the Inclusive and Ethical Use of Digital Identity Working Group, which researches inclusivity and ethics in digital identity solutions. DINZ takes a collaborative approach to digital identity development, working alongside the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and other government bodies to shape New Zealand's digital identity ecosystem. Their work encompasses:

• Supporting the transition from centralized systems like RealMe to more flexible approaches
• Promoting privacy-preserving identity solutions
• Advancing standards for verifiable credentials
• Fostering discussion around biometric authentication implementation
• Developing frameworks for ethical and inclusive digital identity systems