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Information gathering transparency statement  

Overarching statement

This transparency statement explains how the Serious Fraud Office collects, uses and shares information gathered about members of the public or other entities in accordance with the Information Gathering Model Standards issued by the Te Kawa Mataaho, Public Service Commission 

 We collect and use information both directly and indirectly to fulfil our legislative functions and duties as a law enforcement agency and as a Public Service Department, including for the purposes of: 

  • detecting, investigating, and prosecuting serious or complex financial crime;  
  • fraud prevention; and 
  • taking appropriate steps to respond to and mitigate threats to the physical security of staff, or the security of information or places (e.g. web hacking, physical security breach). 

This transparency statement applies to information gathering carried out by us, our contractors, and any other third parties engaged by us.

Legislative framework 

We take care to exercise our information-gathering powers lawfully and appropriately and meet our obligations under the Serious Fraud Office Act 1990, Privacy Act 2020, Bill of Rights Act 1990, Official Information Act 1982, relevant court decisions, the Standards of Integrity and Conduct and relevant SFO policies and procedures at all times. 

Types of information covered by this statement and why we collect it  

What we do with the information 

Questions and complaints 

If you have any questions about our information-gathering activities, please contact us. 

If you believe we have not acted lawfully or in accordance with this statement, please contact us. Alternatively, you may wish to complain to the Privacy Commissioner(external link) or Ombudsman(external link), if applicable.