A supplementary order paper tabled in Parliament by Justice Minister Andrew Little proposes an amendment to section 2 of the Privacy Bill, setting the commencement date for most of the legislation as 1 November 2020.

Passage of the bill depends upon Parliament's ability to pass it and to continue in the face of COVID-19. The Privacy Bill was introduced on 20 March 2018 and is currently before the committee of the whole House.

Privacy Commissioner John Edwards says the SOP gives New Zealand businesses and organisations a good level of certainty as they prepare for the new Privacy Act.

"There is now a clear target for businesses and other organisations to aim for to ensure they are ready by the 1 November commencement date," he says.

"For most businesses, the most notable change in the new Act will be the introduction of a requirement to report serious privacy breaches. Notifiable privacy breaches will require organisations to notify the Privacy Commissioner and any affected individuals if there is a the breach that has caused serious harm, or poses a risk of causing someone serious harm."