New Zealand's immigration border security efforts have suffered a significant setback following the collapse of a major technology initiative aimed at upgrading biometric capabilities. The project, intended to modernise identity management systems, ultimately delivered no operational benefits despite years of investment and effort.
Origins of the Biometric Capability Upgrade Initiative
The Biometric Capability Upgrade project was launched in November 2018 under the auspices of Immigration New Zealand, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Its primary goal was to enhance border security through improved biometric data handling, replacing or upgrading aging systems that process traveller identities at ports of entry. Officials envisioned a more robust platform capable of handling increasing volumes of visitors while strengthening verification processes against fraud and security risks.
Initial estimates placed the whole-of-life cost at approximately $19.5 million. The project was positioned as a necessary modernisation step for an immigration system facing growing demands from international travel and evolving security requirements. Early planning assumed an off-the-shelf technology solution could be adapted efficiently to New Zealand's specific needs.
Timeline of Delays, Scope Changes and Ultimate Cancellation
From its inception, the initiative encountered immediate hurdles. Unclear requirements, rushed decision-making and inadequate initial analysis set a challenging foundation. By 2020, officials significantly expanded the project's scope and complexity without thorough due diligence or appropriate ministerial oversight at the time.
A series of change requests followed over subsequent years, altering timelines and budgets substantially. Whole-of-life costs climbed steadily, reaching around $30 million by 2021 and later approved increases pushed figures higher. Despite these escalations, the project persisted through multiple phases of development and testing.
User testing in late 2025 revealed more defects than fixes, leading to the decision to cancel the effort in November of that year. Over seven years, the initiative produced no usable system or measurable improvements to border operations.
Governance Shortcomings and Ignored Warnings
An independent review conducted by Greg James highlighted profound deficiencies in project management. Multiple quality assurance assessments flagged risks, yet recommendations were not adequately addressed. The project cycled through numerous project managers, contributing to inconsistent leadership and continuity issues.
Internal warnings about viability were reportedly sidelined, with some staff who raised concerns reassigned away from the team. Reporting to ministers was described as inconsistent, at times overly optimistic and occasionally misrepresentative of actual progress and challenges.
Creative accounting practices were employed to keep reported costs below thresholds that would have triggered greater Cabinet scrutiny, according to the review findings. This approach limited external visibility into the project's mounting difficulties.
Photo by Claudette Wicks on Unsplash
Reactions from Immigration Minister Erica Stanford
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford expressed strong dissatisfaction upon receiving the review's conclusions. She described being provided with advice that proved inaccurate, including claims about independent quality assurance outcomes that did not align with the actual assessments.
Stanford noted that previous ministers under the Labour government also appeared to have received incomplete information regarding cost increases and project status. She highlighted instances where requests for additional funding proceeded without full disclosure of prior rejections or concerns.
The minister emphasised the seriousness of the findings, including the combination of misleading advice, personnel changes following internal questioning, and efforts to circumvent standard approval processes. She committed to pursuing accountability and systemic improvements within the ministry.
Responses from MBIE Leadership and Broader Government
MBIE chief executive Nic Blakeley acknowledged the review's critical findings and accepted responsibility for governance and oversight failures on behalf of the department. He expressed disappointment and outlined plans for internal reviews, including employment-related investigations where warranted.
Blakeley noted that the project had been discontinued prior to his appointment and stressed a commitment to strengthening processes across MBIE's portfolio of initiatives. The ministry welcomed the subsequent Public Service Commission inquiry into integrity matters.
Opposition figures, including former ministers, welcomed the independent scrutiny while underscoring the importance of transparent advice to elected officials regardless of political affiliation.
Financial and Operational Impacts
The failure has resulted in a substantial write-off, with Budget 2026 including provisions for up to $31.2 million to cover the project's costs. Taxpayers bear the burden of this expenditure with no corresponding enhancements to immigration processing or security infrastructure.
Immigration New Zealand must now continue relying on existing legacy systems while developing alternative solutions. This situation introduces ongoing risks associated with outdated technology, including potential vulnerabilities in identity verification and border management capabilities.
The episode has also prompted reviews of other ongoing technology programmes within the immigration portfolio to prevent similar issues from arising elsewhere.
Public Service Commission Integrity Investigation
Following the minister's request, Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche announced plans to appoint an independent investigator. The probe will examine the integrity concerns raised in the review, focusing on behaviours, ethics and the quality of advice provided to ministers.
Recommendations from this process are expected to inform potential disciplinary actions and broader reforms in public sector project governance. The investigation underscores expectations for high standards of accountability in the management of significant public funds.
Lessons for Future Public Sector Technology Projects
The experience offers clear insights into the risks associated with large-scale IT initiatives in government settings. Thorough upfront analysis, robust governance frameworks and candid reporting emerge as essential elements for success.
Mechanisms to ensure ministerial oversight remains effective, even when projects encounter difficulties, appear critical. Encouraging open internal dialogue without fear of reassignment can help surface problems earlier.
Agencies may benefit from independent assurance processes that carry genuine weight in decision-making, alongside realistic assessments of project viability at key milestones.
Outlook for Immigration Technology Renewal
Immigration New Zealand faces the task of identifying a viable path forward for biometric and identity management enhancements. Lessons from this project are likely to shape procurement, scoping and oversight approaches for any successor initiatives.
Stakeholders across government and the public will be watching closely for evidence of improved practices. Restoring confidence in the ministry's ability to deliver complex technology projects successfully remains a priority for Minister Stanford and MBIE leadership.
Broader discussions around public service accountability and project management standards may gain momentum as a result of these events, potentially influencing how similar endeavours are approached in other sectors.
