H v Attorney-General - [2024] 3 NZLR 319

Privacy — Access to court documents — State care records — Rights as adults to access own personal information — Whether Privacy Acts providing basis for relevant government agency to withhold personal information — Reports ordered by and furnished to courts — Whether access restricted by court order — Welfare legislation limiting access — Purpose and context of Privacy Acts — Right to privacy — Principle of legality — Obligations of agencies to disclose personal information held by them — Whether right to access own personal information from agencies limited by court rules — Whether request for documents should be to courts — Declaratory relief — Privacy Act 2020 ss 3, 8(a), 22, 24, 49(1) and 53.

Statutes — Interpretation — Proper interpretation of Privacy Acts — Purpose and context of Privacy Acts — Rights as adults to access own personal information — State care — Whether Privacy Acts providing basis for relevant government agency to withhold personal information — Impact of court rules — Privacy Act 2020 ss 3, 8(a), 22, 24, 49(1) and 53.