Access to information on FarmsOnLine is restricted by law. Section 142C of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) distinguishes between information sources from the public domain and information obtained from other sources. You can read more detail on the Purpose of use.
FarmsOnLine is a one stop shop for accurate up-to-date contact details for rural properties in New Zealand. It gives MPI instant access to information so it can respond quickly to a biosecurity alert or natural disaster.
The information will assist with surveillance programmes and the development of rural policy. It will be used to support biosecurity programmes run by organisations like the Animal Health Board and Regional Councils. The information will also support research relating to the rural sector, animal, plant and human health and food safety.
Much of the information on FarmsOnLine is publicly available such as your property location, address, title and land-use. The name of the owner, manager or occupier is not publicly available but is a critical part of FarmsOnLine.
The personal information can only be used for biosecurity purposes unless you give specific permission or new legislation is put in place. It will not be available for individuals other than to registered FarmsOnLine users who will be able to update or correct their own formation if they choose.
The biosecurity uses are those sanctioned under the Biosecurity Act 1993. The relevant section of the Act says:
Any new legislation to alter the use of personal information would involve a full parliamentary process. This includes public consultation and a select hearing.
MPI has worked closely with industry bodies like the Animal Health Board to establish partnership agreements so personal information held by them can be shared with FarmsOnLine. In the case of the Animal Health Board, about 80,000 AHB members were written to and advised that their information would be shared with FarmsOnLine unless they chose to opt out. Nearly 99 per cent of AHB members chose to be part of FarmsOnLine.
FarmsOnLine does not hold any other information about your business or farm operation. There is no information on FarmsOnLine about disease status, individual stock or crop information or financial, commercial or land values.
Protecting personal information is fundamental to the success of FarmsOnLine. MPI has gone to considerable lengths to ensure there are clear rules for the use of the information. As a result, you can have confidence that your personal information will be well safe-guarded.
MPI has consulted with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the Office of the Ombudsmen in developing the approach to protecting personal and commercially sensitive information. FarmsOnLine will comply with the Information Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act and will manage and protect personal information in accordance with the FarmsOnLine Privacy Impact Assessment report. You can read more details on FarmsOnLine.
MPI has established a FarmsOnLine Data Advisory Committee. It is made up of industry representatives and senior MPI staff. This committee will be responsible for the following activities:
Registration for FarmsOnLine is not compulsory. You have the right to request that your personal information be removed from FarmsOnLine at any time. This is done by opting out. You can do so by contacting us by phone, 0800 4 FOLNZ (or 0800 4 36569), or emailing us 4FOLNZ@mpi.govt.nz, or clicking on "Request a Change" once you have identified a farm.