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Bunnings NZ taking 'considered approach' with facial recognition tech rollout

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 15 Apr 2026, 6:46pm
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Bunnings NZ taking 'considered approach' with facial recognition tech rollout

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 15 Apr 2026, 6:46pm

Repeat offenders are the target of the recent Bunnings facial recognition technology rollout.

It's turning on scanners in Te Rapa and Hamilton South today, before later rolling them out countrywide.

Threats have more than doubled in the hardware retailer's stores in the past four years, 34 percent from repeat offenders.

Bunnings New Zealand general manager Melissa Haines says data on regular shoppers won't be kept.

"If someone comes into our stores, there's a very quick scan of the face - if there's any match to a person that's previously committed serious harm in our stores, then that's where we're using it."

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