A privacy code of practice has been proposed to allow various agencies and organisations to share information during a national state of emergency.
Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff says the code would partially relax the usual rules relating to the disclosure of personal information, to help identify people caught up in the emergency and to get essential services for them.
She says it would also make it easier to coordinate emergency management and make sure people responsible for others are kept informed.
Ms Shroff says the code builds on experience gained after the Christchurch earthquakes, when a temporary code was put in place.
It would cover Government agencies, emergency services and any group providing medical, financial or humanitarian assistance.
