author:phil_pennington]
Signs outside Bunnings in Petone say video surveillance is used – but the chain says not facial recognition Photo: RNZ / Phil Pennington
Hardware chain Bunnings and mass retailer Kmart say they are not using facial recognition technology on customers in this country.
In Australia, Bunnings and Kmart have put the use of controverisal cameras on pause while they are investigated by the national privacy watchdog, after a consumer group revealed the companies' use of the software.
Bunnings New Zealand director Ben Camire said, "Facial recognition technology is not in use in Bunnings stores in New Zealand.
"There are no current plans to introduce it."
The chain also said "facial recognition technology has not been used in New Zealand".
Kmart, which like Bunnings is part of the Wesfarmers group, said similarly:
"We have not used facial recognition technology in any Kmart New Zealand stores and do not have plans to introduce it in New Zealand.
"We have temporarily stopped the use of this technology in our small number of Australian trial stores given the commencement of the OAIC [Office of the Australian Information Commissioner] investigation."
In Australia, Bunnings is reported saying it only used the tech to detect when a person who has been banned - for spitting, berating or pulling weapons on staff - enters a store.
Some New Zealand retailers have been using facial recognition tech (FRT) inside stores for at least five years.
The technology is regularly promoted as effective at cutting shoplifting.
In a 2017 privacy assessment, the police in Counties Manukau district said, "Already another police district is contemplating the opportunity provided by retailers who have deployed facial recognition software."
Last month police told RNZ, "Since 2017, police has maintained a general awareness of this technology, and is currently aware of a number of retail security applications of FRT being used in conjunction with CCTV across New Zealand."
They said these were independent of the police.
"Police has not made any use of live-FRT and confirmed in December 2021 it will not use live-FRT without further detailed analysis, taking account of legal, privacy and human rights concerns, with a particular focus on the New Zealand context. This stance continues," the police said.
Many stores also use number plate identifying cameras in their carparks, which are often linked to police.