NZ Verify training pack
About this training pack
Use this training pack to help onboard your team to the NZ Verify app.
Only use the verification templates that apply to your organisation — for example, hospitality teams may need age-restricted purchases, while other organisations may need driver licence or proof of identity checks.
You can also download the training pack as PDF (including screenshots):
NZ Verify training pack (PDF 652KB)
Pair this training pack with the NZ Verify how-to guide:
NZ Verify how-to guide (PDF 354KB)
About the NZ Verify app
What is NZ Verify
The NZ Verify app is the official New Zealand Government app for in-person verification of digital credentials.
It was created by the Government Digital Delivery Agency (GDDA), part of the Public Service Commission.
It lets your organisation confirm that a person’s digital credential is genuine, current, comes from a trusted issuer, and has not been tampered with.
The NZ Verify app is not:
- a digital wallet — it does not hold or share credentials; that’s the role of apps like the Govt.nz app
- a data collector – it does not store copies of, for example, a person’s credentials, name, date of birth, address, or photo
- a tool for verifying physical credentials, such as physical copies of driver licences or passports.
NZ Verify can verify a credential in any compliant digital wallet, not just the one in the Govt.nz app.
How verification works
When a person presents their device with their digital wallet to you, it starts a communication between your 2 devices.
The Govt.nz app will automatically select a credential that matches your verification request. If there are multiple matches, the person is prompted to select one. The NZ Verify app then runs a series of automatic checks on the selected credential.
You do not need to remember these checks individually — NZ Verify runs them automatically every time.
- Cryptographic check — confirms the credential’s digital signature against the issuing authority’s public key.
- Trust check — confirms the issuing authority is on a list of trusted issuers maintained by GDDA.
- Validity check — confirms the credential has not expired or been revoked.
- Acceptability check (for some verification cases) — assesses whether the credential is acceptable for the intended purpose and confirms the person meets specific requirements, such as a minimum age.
- Result — if every check passes, the NZ Verify app will display a “Valid” message, or “Approved” if step 4 is applicable, along with certain details from the presented credential — for example, a name and photo for Photo ID.
Privacy and security
The NZ Verify app is built on the principle that verification should never come at the cost of privacy.
No data is retained
Nothing is stored on the device or sent to a server.
No tracking
NZ Verify cannot be used to track people holding the credentials and does not collect personal identifying information.
Screenshots blocked
Screen capture and screen recording are disabled to protect the credential holder’s information.
Trusted issuers only
Before a credential can be verified using the app, it must be accredited under the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework (DISTF) legislation or be an international mobile driver licence with a publicly shared cryptographic certificate; and be added to GDDA’s trust list of issuers.
Legal context
The NZ Verify app supports your verification process, but it does not replace your organisation’s legal responsibilities.
Only credentials from trusted issuers can be verified using the NZ Verify app, accredited under the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework legislation or an international mobile driver licence, and added to the GDDA’s official trust list.
The NZ Verify app does not change any existing laws about where and when digital credentials can be accepted. Some legislation will need to be updated to accept them.
For example, the Identity Verification Code of Practice and the Sale and Supply of Alcohol regulations were updated on 1 July 2026 to allow the use of digital identity credentials for financial services and age restricted goods and services.
Organisations remain responsible for their own legal and compliance obligations.
Verification templates and screen results
Choosing the right verification template
- Select a verification template before scanning the person’s digital wallet — this tells the NZ Verify app what to check for and what information to request.
- Select ‘View request details’ for the full description of what a template checks and what it will display.
- Some templates accept more than one credential type — for example, a driver licence and a photo ID like the Kiwi Access Card. You may need to ask the person which one they have and select that option. (Note: This is a limitation of the current international credential standards, not a fault in the app — it can only request one credential type at a time).
- The NZ Verify app remembers your last-used template when you reopen it — check it’s still the right one before you start a new verification.
The section below lists all verification templates — use only the ones that apply to your organisation.
Age-restricted purchases
This is an example of using the NZ Verify app to check a person is over the age of 18 years, from your customer’s point of view.
- Alex has his Kiwi Access Card loaded in the Govt.nz app.
- He’s used to using his phone for everything (eftpos, tickets, ID) and expects this to be just as quick.
- Alex just wants his drink. Nobody enjoys being asked to prove their age.
1. You ask Alex for his ID
He opens the Govt.nz app and selects his Kiwi Access Card.
2. You select ‘Alcohol purchase’ in the NZ Verify app and scan Alex’s QR code
Alex's phone shows what's being requested, confirmation he’s over 18 and photo, nothing else.
3. Alex taps to share
Nothing is sent until Alex approves. He confirms with fingerprint or face ID.
4. Your screen shows green: Approved
No name, date of birth or address is shown to you, because it’s not needed to verify Alex’s age.
Why this matters for your team
Alex did not hand over his whole ID — just a yes/no answer to the question of if he’s over 18 years old.
This is the NZ Verify app’s privacy protection working as intended. Understanding this will help you answer questions from your customers about what you can see.
Operating a motor vehicle
Proof of identity
Understanding every result screen
For age and eligibility checks, users will only see "Approved" or "Not approved". The app does not explain the specific reason for a failed check.
Valid or Approved (green screen)
The credential is genuine, has not been tampered with, and is from a trusted issuer. The requested details are displayed.
Invalid or Not approved (red screen)
The credential is from an untrusted issuer, has been tampered with, or is not able to be used for the specified purpose.
Unable to verify (orange screen)
The verification could not be completed. For example, the person does not have the right credential type or declined to share it.
Revoked (grey screen)
The credential has been revoked by its issuer. For example, when the person is removed from a role their credential asserted (such as the Companies Office removing a person from a company Director role).
Expired (white screen)
The credential is past its validity period.
Not yet active (yellow screen)
The credential's validity period has not started yet.
What to do when a result is not valid
Most people will not know why a credential did not work, and you will not have enough information to explain the technical reason. A physical ID is always an alternate option.
Unable to verify (orange screen)
Ask if the person has the other accepted credential type (for example, photo ID instead of driver licence, or vice versa) and try again.
Revoked or expired (grey or white screen)
Let the person know this credential cannot be used and ask for an alternative. If they have no digital alternative, ask for a physical version of the credential.
Invalid (red screen)
Do not proceed. Treat this the same way you would an invalid physical ID.
Support
Day-to-day use questions
Feedback about the app
Send through your questions, feedback or suggestions for improving the NZ Verify app.
Utility links and page information
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