【新西兰华人每日资讯网 7月31日报道】

新西兰商业、创新与就业部（MBIE）负责的生物识别能力升级项目（Biometric Capability Upgrade，BCU）持续引发关注。政府近日表示，该项目此前公布的亏损金额可能并非全部成本，目前已发现额外 600万纽元相关支出，并决定启动独立财务审计。

BCU项目原计划为期七年，属于MBIE大型数字能力建设项目，但已于2025年12月终止。MBIE此前向政府和国会教育与劳动力委员会报告称，需要注销的项目成本约为 3300万纽元。

然而，审查发现，MBIE此前提供的部分财务资料存在疑问。政府表示，MBIE首席执行官进一步核查后发现，还有约 600万纽元项目相关成本未被纳入此前统计。

由于无法确认这600万纽元是否代表全部支出，MBIE决定委托进行独立财务审计。

政府同时已将相关问题提交：

• Michael Heron Inquiry into the Biometric Capability Upgrade Project；
• Public Service Commission。

政府表示，此事不仅涉及BCU项目本身，也引发对MBIE整体财务管理和内部控制机制的关注。

此前，Greg James审查报告曾质疑，MBIE是否存在通过“调整会计处理方式”将项目生命周期成本控制在3500万纽元以下，以避免提交内阁审查的问题。

经济增长部长 Nicola Willis 已参与后续处理工作。政府要求进一步评估是否需要扩大调查范围，确保所有与BCU项目有关的问题都被全面审查。

编辑点评：

政府数字化项目投入巨大资金后出现成本失控问题，不仅影响财政透明度，也关系公众对政府IT项目管理能力的信任。此次独立审计和调查结果，将成为评估新西兰公共部门大型科技项目治理能力的重要依据。

（来源：New Zealand Government / MBIE）

The 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.

Earlier this week, when reviewing answers that MBIE had provided in response to follow-up questions from the Education and Workforce Committee, my office identified that financial information MBIE had provided in response to a question from the Committee could not be correct.

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.

“However, the Chief Executive informed my office today that he cannot be confident this further $6 million represents the full extent of expenditure on the BCU and he has made the decision to commission an independent financial audit.

In close consultation with Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, we have referred this matter to both the Michael Heron inquiry into the BCU project and the Public Service Commissioner, as we consider it raises significant questions regarding MBIE’s financial controls more generally.

We have also asked the Public Service Commissioner to consider whether the scope of the Heron Inquiry needs to be amended to ensure that all matters in relation to the Biometric Capability project are included.