Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Scrapped upgrade to NZ border biometric capabilities keeps racking up costs

biometricupdate.com · 8hShare

New Zealand’s now-axed Biometric Capability Upgrade (BCU) project cost more than $50 million (US$28.3 million) – and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) can’t promise costs of the biometric border boondoggle won’t keep rising. Earlier estimates had pegged the costs closer to $30 million (US$17 million). A report from RNZ quotes MBIE chief executive Nic Blakely, who confirmed the $50 million figure, and told parliament, “as chief executive, I take responsibility for the failures and I’m taking accountability by making the changes needed to strengthen the organization. And I know that I will be judged on the results.” Last month, Blakely was found in contempt of parliament for deliberately misleading MPs about the biometrics project. MBIE head tells parliament he’ll climb mountain to regain trust Now, the head of MBIE has pledged to “set up a structured programme of assurance work” to review technology initiatives and the governance, systems and processes supportin

First report: MBIE confirms botched biometric projects costs blown out to $50.7 million — rnz.co.nz, 1d