Facial Recognition Trial
We’re trialling facial recognition in up to 25 stores as part of our commitment to keeping our teams and customers safe by keeping previous offenders out.
What we're doing
As part of our ongoing fight against retail crime, in February 2024 we announced the start of our trial of facial recognition in up to 25 stores across the North Island. For the full story, including how the trial will work, read our press release here.
The facts about our facial recognition trial
Everyone in New Zealand has the right to a safe workplace and a safe place to shop. However, we’re finding the same people keep offending and targeting our stores – even if they’ve previously been trespassed from the store.We understand people might have concerns about our trial. Read our fact sheet that looks at 12 common themes - and the facts about these here.
We take privacy very seriously
We hope to establish if facial recognition will help keep our people and customers safe without compromising their privacy. We’ve been very thorough in ensuring we respect the privacy of our customers. We have appointed a specialist, independent organisation to design and evaluate the trial – they’ll also evaluate the results. We’ve also engaged with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to ensure they’re well briefed and aware of how the trial will work.
You can read our Privacy Impact Assessment Report here.
The following stores are currently trialling facial recognition:
From Thursday, 08 February
• New World Brookfield. 89 Bellevue Road, Brookfield, Tauranga 3110
• New World Westend. 247 Old Taupo Road, Hillcrest, Rotorua 3015
• PAK’nSAVE Mill Street. 17 Mill Street, Whitiora, Hamilton 3200
• PAK’nSAVE Napier. 25 Munroe Street, Napier South, Napier 4110
• PAK’nSAVE New Plymouth. 53 Leach Street, New Plymouth Central, New Plymouth 4310
• PAK’nSAVE Silverdale. 20 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Silverdale 0993
• PAK’nSAVE Tamatea. Cnr Leicester Avenue & Coventry Ave, Tamatea, Napier 4112
From Friday, 16 February
• New World Gate Pa. 948 Cameron Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga 3112
• New World Kaikohe. 8 Marino Place, Kaikohe 0405
• New World Levin. 21 Bath Street, Levin 5510
• New World Mt Maunganui. Cnr Tweed St & Maunganui Rd, Mt Maunganui 3116
• New World Pioneer. 179/197 Main Street, Takaro, Palmerston North 4412
• PAK’nSAVE Ormiston. 1 Bellingham Road, Flat Bush, Auckland 2019
• PAK’nSAVE Palmerston North. 327 Ferguson Street, Palmerston North 4410
• PAK’nSAVE Sylvia Park. 286 Mount Wellington Highway, Sylvia Park, Auckland 1060
From Thursday, 22 February
• New World Regent, 167 Bank Street, Regent, Whangārei 0112
• New World Te Rapa, 751 Te Rapa Road, Te Rapa, Hamilton 3200
• PAK’nSAVE Manukau, 6 Cavendish Drive, Manukau City Centre, Auckland 2104
• PAK’nSAVE Papamoa, 42 Domain Road, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa 3118
• PAK’nSAVE Taupo, 105/131 Ruapehu Street, Taupō 3330
• PAK’nSAVE Upper Hutt, Gibbons Street, Upper Hutt Central, Upper Hutt 5018
• PAK’nSAVE Whangarei, Walton Street, Whangārei 0110
From Friday, 08 March
• New World Feilding, 42 Aorangi Street, Feilding 4702
• PAK’nSAVE Papakura, 331-345 Great South Road, Takanini, Auckland, 2112
• PAK’nSAVE Whanganui, 167 Glasgow Street, Whanganui 4500