Press Release – New Zealand GovernmentMBIE previously advised Ministers, the Education and Workforce Committee, and New Zealanders in June that the project costs to be written off were around $33 million. Hon Erica StanfordMinister for ImmigrationThe Biometric Capability Upgrade was a seven-year project within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) that was ceased in December 2025. MBIE previously advised Ministers, the Education and Workforce Committee, and New Zealanders in June that the project costs to be written off were around $33 million. The Greg James review also raised questions about whether MBIE undertook “creative accounting” to keep the project below the $35 million whole-of-life costs threshold to avoid Cabinet scrutiny. In response to the questions raised by my office, the MBIE Chief Executive advised me yesterday afternoon that, upon further review, another $6 million in associated project costs had been identified.