New Zealand Post trials ID photo capture service

New Zealand Post is taking steps towards providing a full identity verification service with the trial of a photo capture system at 14 of its PostShop Kiwibank stores. Initiatially, the service will mean customers can get photographs for passports and other identification purposes – prices are set at $20 ($17 USD) for six full colour photographs.

However, New Zealand Post said the service will help pave the way for a premium identity verification service.

Following testing of the technology provided by international biometrics and identity software specialist Daon, New Zealand Post said it aims to roll out the photo capture system to about 150 PostShops by early next year.

As well as the photo capture technology, the DaonEngine system has other components including signature and fingerprint capture as well as biographical document capture.

The capabilities will mean the Post will be able to provide “sophisticated” identity verification, it said.

The Post said in a statement: “The photo capture/face quality assessment capability is a significant point of difference to what else is available in the New Zealand market. The passport photo hardware is automated and intuitive for correct positioning. Photos cannot be taken until a number of automated criteria such as lighting, position, eyes open etc, meet pre-determined passport photo requirements.

“There is significantly less chance of a PostShop photo being rejected by the relevant passport authority,” added New Zealand Post, which is offering to provide a replacement set of photographs if any are rejected by a passport authority.

Currently, the system is configured to meet New Zealand and UK passport standards, though other configurations will be added at a later date. Non-passport photographs can also be taken by the system.

New Zealand Post said the Daon system is already in use by post offices in Britain and Australia.