The Wellington City Council in New Zealand is facing an investigation after a serious data breach occurred, resulting in the release of personal details of individuals involved in road crashes. The council obtained the data from Waka Kotahi, which included information on 1,876 crashes involving 4,224 people, some of which were involved in court cases. The released information contained names of drivers, car registration numbers, driver’s license numbers, statements from drivers, and medical details such as hospitalizations, blood alcohol levels, and drug use. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has been notified, and the council will conduct an independent investigation. Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau expressed disappointment and frustration over the incident. The council failed to redact private details before releasing the data, which was made publicly available under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA). The spreadsheet containing the sensitive information was subsequently published on the FYI website but has since been restricted. The council acknowledges the seriousness of the breach and intends to determine its cause and take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
