Hardware retailer Bunnings has announced plans to introduce facial recognition technology across its stores in New Zealand in an effort to identify repeat offenders and reduce incidents of violence against staff and customers. The system is designed to alert staff when serious repeat offenders enter a store, allowing them to respond proactively. Bunnings New Zealand general manager Melissa Haines said repeat offenders were responsible for a growing share of these incidents. Bunnings said the rollout plan was developed after reviewing the findings of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner regarding an earlier facial recognition trial conducted by Foodstuffs North Island. Bunnings said the facial recognition system would complement existing security measures already in place at stores, including body-worn cameras, security personnel, and staff training programs aimed at managing difficult situations, as reported by Stuff.

Source: Stuff March 07, 2026 03:25 UTC