New Zealand Trials First Government-Issued Digital Business Credential

New Zealand has launched a trial of its first government-issued digital credential, allowing selected businesses to verify their identity and prove who is authorized to act on their behalf through a digital wallet.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) introduced the NZBN Business Passport on November 3. It is stored in the Govt.nz app and uses information from the New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) Register. Businesses can share the credential online or present it in person for verification.

The initial trial involves selected Westpac business customers, who can link the passport to their banking services. Used alongside a separate digital identity credential issued by Westpac to verify bank account details, it confirms both business identity and account ownership without repeated document submissions or manual checks.

The NZBN Business Passport is the second credential accredited under New Zealand’s Digital Identity Services Trust Framework. Westpac became the first accredited bank issuer in September. MBIE is also engaging with other banks and organizations interested in using the credential, but wider adoption will depend on feedback from the trial.

The passport is held in the user’s digital wallet rather than stored in a central government database. Businesses choose when to share it and which information to disclose. The government says the approach is intended to reduce administrative work while giving organizations a more reliable way to verify business information.