Services › Identity Verification Service › Government Directions Regarding RealMe Services

Public Service departments, the New Zealand Police, the New Zealand Defence Force, the Parliamentary Counsel Office, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and Crown agents all need to be aware of directions relating to certain RealMe services.

All these agencies have been directed, either by Cabinet or, in the case of Crown agents, by a whole of government direction under the Crown Entities Act, to consult with the Department of Internal Affairs before developing a proposal to invest in or build online credential management or identity verification capability as an alternative to using all-of-government shared authentication services (the RealMe login service and the identity verification service).

If, after such consultation:

• the relevant agency still intends to invest in or build alternative online credential management or identity verification capability; and
• the Department of Internal Affairs has not agreed to the agency investing in or building alternative online credential management or identity verification capability;

the agency must obtain the approval of its responsible Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs before taking action to implement the proposal.