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  "description": "The United States has given the 42 countries in its Visa Waiver Program until the end of the year to conclude negotiations.",
  "path": "/government-weighs-expanded-biometric-data-sharing-with-us-to-preserve-visa-free-travel/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-28T20:03:46.000Z",
  "site": "https://goodoil.news",
  "tags": [
    "Centrist",
    "**Read more over at RNZ**",
    "** _Receive our free newsletter here_**"
  ],
  "textContent": "Summarised by Centrist\n\n**The government is in negotiations with the United States over a new border security agreement that could expand the sharing of New Zealanders’ biometric data.**\n\nThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed officials are discussing the requirements and scope of an Enhanced Border Security Partnership (EBSP).\n\nThe United States has given the 42 countries in its Visa Waiver Program until the end of the year to conclude negotiations or risk losing visa-free travel access for stays of up to 90 days.\n\nNew Zealand already participates in biometric data sharing under the Five Eyes “Migration Five” framework with Australia, Canada, the US and the United Kingdom.\n\nCritics say EBSP agreements could go further, potentially allowing automated access to national databases.\n\nThe government has not specified what categories of information might be shared, what safeguards would apply, or whether Parliament or the public would be consulted before any agreement is finalised.\n\nForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters’ office did not comment.\n\nCouncil of Civil Liberties chair Thomas Beagle raised concerns about long-term data control once information is transferred overseas.\n\nMāori data sovereignty expert Dr Karaitiana Taiuru questioned how sensitive information, including police records, would be treated if shared internationally.\n\nThe Privacy Commission declined to comment on whether it had been consulted.\n\nLegal academic Gehan Gunasekara acknowledged New Zealand’s limited leverage in negotiations with larger partners.\n\nSeveral other countries, including the UK, Israel and Bahrain, have signed or are negotiating similar agreements with the US.\n\n**Read more over at RNZ**\n\n** _Receive our free newsletter here_**",
  "title": "Government weighs expanded biometric data sharing with US to preserve visa-free travel",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-01T19:35:09.374Z"
}