Public Safety Concerns as Police Face Delays in Fingerprint Tech Upgrade

Almost two years after warning that aging fingerprint technology could compromise public safety, NZ Police are still using the same NEC systems as they prepare a new tender.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 2, 2026, 4:37 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Stalled Procurement and Contract Extensions

The initial push for a technological overhaul began in 2024 but was waylaid following an initial tender process. Since then, Police have been forced to extend their existing contract with the Japanese technology firm NEC, which was originally set to expire in July 2025.

Detective Inspector Craig Mason, manager of national forensic services, confirmed that the department is still defining the requirements for a "viable replacement technology." Because the police are currently preparing for a new procurement phase, much of the specific technical and financial information remains commercially sensitive.

The Scale of the Fingerprint Infrastructure Gap

The original 2024 plan outlined an ambitious upgrade to capture comprehensive biometric data, including palm and footprints. The requirements for the modernization project included:

Annual Data Capture: Capacity for 50,000 to 55,000 new sets of full prints and 600,000 latent prints from approximately 25,000 cases (including crime scenes).