Private by DesignWhen Health Messages Hurt Trust
Confusion of recent text message rollout by Te Whatu Ora
When a hospital text message looks like a scam, something’s gone wrong — even if the message is genuine.
This series takes a closer look at the recent waitlist validation texts sent by Te Whatu Ora, unpacking how a well-intentioned campaign turned into a privacy case study. We’ll explore why trust broke down, how design choices opened the door to abuse, and what a privacy-first approach should have looked like instead.
These posts aren’t about fear. They’re about clarity, control, and raising the bar — because public systems should earn trust, not erode it.