Data base sent out to swim clients

The Taupo¯ District Council has had to issue a full apology and report itself to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner after the council-owned AC Baths Swim School accidentally sent an excel spreadsheet containing details of all 650 swim school clients to everybody on the database.

The Officer of the Privacy Commissioner has advised that those who received the email on Tuesday should delete it immediately. The breach occurred when a spreadsheet carrying membership and contact details, class lists and payment information was inadvertently attached to an group email to all 650 clients instead of the term four swim school newsletter. The spreadsheet did not carry any bank details.

An email from council chief executive Gareth Green to all clients contained a formal apology and said the council understood it had caused distress for parents.

“We take any privacy breach incredibly seriously and will be investigating how this occurred and what processes we can put in place to prevent this from happening in the future,” Mr Green said.

The council will be working with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner regarding any formal complaints.

Mr Green also invited people who felt adversely affected and needed immediate help to contact him directly.