After downloading the app to your phone or tablet from the Apple App or Google Play Store, you can customise it. Tailor the app to suit your personal circumstances and the services you need.

Explore the ‘Services’ tab to find helpful information and services. You can pin and save useful tools and helplines to the app ‘Home Screen’ to create your own dashboard. There’s useful tools and information from across these topics:

• Business
• Driving and transport
• Education and training
• Emergencies and natural disasters
• Family and whānau
• Health and care
• Housing and property
• Law, crime and justice
• Money and tax
• Passports, visas and citizenship
• Recreation and outdoors
• Support and benefits
• Travel and living overseas
• Work

Once set up, your dashboard gives you direct access to these services without having to search each time. The goal is to make it easy to access services, request support, or update your details with the right government service.

We’re adding a range of new integrated services to the app throughout 2026 and onwards. This includes a secure messaging service and making the wallet available to the public to securely store your ‘accredited digital credentials’ — digital formats of things such as your licences, proofs of identity and qualifications.

You do not need to create an account or log in to the app itself. Your preferences are saved securely on your device, not within the app itself.

Yes. The Govt.nz app is free to download and use. Standard data charges from your mobile provider may apply.

This is the first release of the Govt.nz app. Right now, you can:

• access a range of services, information, tools and helplines
• save the services most relevant to you on your dashboard for quick access
• set your location preferences to receive emergency updates from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the app.

More functions will be added progressively throughout 2026 and beyond, including:

• more government services integrated directly into the app
• secure messaging and notifications (to replace insecure SMS, email and letters)
• selected digital identity credentials.

The app has been designed to grow over time, based on the needs of New Zealanders and government priorities.

We also welcome your feedback — visit our feedback page to share your thoughts and help shape future services.

Feedback about the Govt.nz app

The app is designed for all New Zealanders who want faster, more convenient access to government services. It can be used from within New Zealand or overseas.

Over time, it will offer even more features that Kiwis want, such as:

• emergency updates and alerts
• secure messaging (replacing emails and letters)
• a secure digital wallet to hold identity credentials like licences and qualifications.

This will give you greater security, privacy, and control over how and who you share your information with, whether government or businesses.

An optional way to access services

We recognise that not everyone can — or wants to — use digital channels. Using an all-of-government app will always be optional. Each government agency remains responsible for providing access to their services in a range of ways, and that will not change.

Accessibility

The first version of the app has been designed and independently audited to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, helping ensure it works for as many people as possible.

Accessibility statement for the Govt.nz app.

The wallet will hold digital credentials that are currently being developed. You can expect to start using them once they become available from early 2026 onwards.

Accredited digital identity credentials are being developed in New Zealand by government, as well as commercial and non-government organisations. Once these organisations are ready to issue their accredited credentials to the public, the wallet will be made available so New Zealanders can store and use them.

From early 2026 onwards, we expect to gradually add a wide range of credentials to the wallet as they’re developed.

Digital identity credentials are secure digital versions of information that prove who you are, or details about you or your organisation.

They reduce the need for face-to-face interactions or physical documents, making it quicker and easier to access services while giving you greater control over what you share.

For example, instead of showing your full driver licence with your name, address, photo and date of birth to prove you’re over 18, you could use a digital credential. This credential simply proves you’re over that age — without revealing any other personal information.

Digital identity credentials can include:

• Personal details — such as your name, birth date, qualifications or address.
• Organisational details — such as a verified bank account number, New Zealand Business Number (NZBN), or IRD number.
• Information you’re authorised to act on behalf of — such as a child or a company.

Already, many other countries, including Australia, are developing digital wallets and identity credentials as a safer, more efficient and private way to share details.

Is this a new digital identification system?

No, this is not a national identity system. It’s about providing your existing identity credentials — such as licences, qualifications, age or address — in a secured digital format. This gives you greater control over how and who you share your details.

People, businesses and other organisations can use their information in a digital way to represent themselves and prove who they are. For example:

• providing their age to enter a bar
• holding a trade qualification to enter a worksite
• a digital drivers licence to rent a car.

Will I be made to use digital credentials?

Using a digital format of your credentials is completely optional.

People will have a choice about whether to use digital identity credentials or continue to use physical documents if they prefer.

However, it’s worthwhile understanding the benefits of using digital credentials over physical documents which includes increased privacy, security and convenience.

Will everyone be able to use the app wallet to store credentials?

You’ll need a device with secure biometric sign-in, like fingerprint or 3D facial recognition to keep your information secure.

Authentication happens via your device, not an app account.

Digital credentials are not just about the convenience of having them on your phone — they give you greater privacy, security and control over your information.

With accredited digital identity services, you decide how, when and how much of your information is shared. For example, instead of handing over a physical document, you can share only the specific detail that’s needed.

Your information is stored securely in the digital wallet on your phone (or other device) and protected through encryption, reducing the risk of misuse.

Digital identity services provide another way to identify who we are, and things about ourselves. Using accredited digital identity services means less reliance on face-to-face interactions or physical documents.

The Trust Framework Authority accreditation mark shows that the service provider has proven they meet the rules and regulations and been accredited by the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Authority.

You’ll be able to store credentials accredited by New Zealand’s Digital Identity Services Trust Framework. These include:

• Government-issued credentials such as driver licences, ID and qualifications will be able to be securely stored in the app’s wallet.
• Accredited credentials from businesses and other organisations. Only credentials accredited by New Zealand’s Digital Identity Service Trust Framework can be added to the app wallet. You’ll still be able to use your device’s wallet or other apps to store credentials like event tickets or store cards that are not accredited.

Only you control your credentials. The app is designed to securely hold your digital credentials encrypted on your device and locked away so only you can view or use them. The app is designed so issuers (including the government) cannot see how or when you use your credentials. You can view your transactions via a ‘history log’, but this is only accessible to you and is also stored securely on your device.

How is my information protected?

The app uses device-level biometric protection (fingerprint, or 3D facial recognition) to access your wallet and complies with the Privacy Act. It will have additional accreditation for privacy, security and identity protection from the Digital Trust Framework, prior to credentials being made available via the app.

What if I lose my device?

Your information remains protected as it’s bound to the biometric authentication on your device (phone or tablet), similar to your banking app. You can restore your credentials by re-authenticating the app on a new device. If you lose or change your device you’ll need to re-add the credentials to the new device.

In this first version, the app provides emergency updates from NEMA. You’ll need to open the app to view them.

You can set your location preferences:

• when you first set up the app, or
• later, by updating the preferences for the Govt.nz app in your phone settings.

These preferences are only used to deliver emergency updates from NEMA. It’s optional to set your location preferences, but these allow you to see the updates in this first release. Updates are shown in-app only.

Push notifications are planned as an optional feature from 2026.

No. The app does not track your activity or store personal information. Your preferences and wallet are saved on your device only, under your control.

You can use the app on most smartphones or tablets running the latest versions of iOS or Android.

To use the wallet, when it’s available, you’ll need a device with secure biometric sign-in, like fingerprint or 3D facial recognition to keep your information secure.

Some older devices may not support new features of the app, or the security requirements for the wallet.

If you need help or assistance with the app, please log an issue using our feedback form and our team will respond.

Feedback about the Govt.nz app

If you need assistance with any of the services you accessed through the app, you’ll need to contact the government agency or organisation that provides that service.

Information should be available via the service website, or if you’re unsure of who to contact, view our list of contacts by topic.

Contact details by topic

We welcome your input, and you can provide feedback or log any issues via our feedback form.

Share your feedback