IMMIGRATION New Zealand said a suspected terrorist would have been detected before he tried to enter New Zealand in 2006, had biometric checks been in place.
The revelation comes as the department makes its case for a $100 million-plus investment in biometric technology.
Rayed Mohammed Abdullah Ali spent four months in New Zealand before suspicions were alerted, after which he was deported to Saudi Arabia.
Identity programme manager Arron Baker told a conference that Ali's biometric information was recorded on a watch list and the suspect had evaded detection by changing his name.
Immigration NZ said under a biometric system, Ali would have been denied a visa issued in Dubai.
Using biometrics, British border control has detected more than 5300 cases of people swapping identities.
NZ Immigration would have to invest in its own biometric systems to check visitors' identities if it was to avoid falling behind.
Legislation that would allow Immigration to collect biometric data such as fingerprints and face scans passed its second reading in Parliament three weeks ago.
Immigration has meanwhile completed a detailed business case for an overhaul of information technology systems, expected to cost more than $100 million, which is required to support the use of biometrics. It has been sent to the Government for consideration.
Visitors would be greeted by automated self-service kiosks that would speed the arrival process, while checking people's identity against biometric-enabled watchlists of undesirables.
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