Here is a post I posted on another forum a little while ago, I didn't get any response, I hope somebody takes notice this time. People (seemingly) are either in denial about this or think it is perfectly OK.

[I]I have been interested in this for some time. About 20 years ago I read that the gov't had been storing blood samples taken from newborn babies INDEFINITELY, they have been doing this since (I believe) 1969. New parents are supposed to be (by law) informed of the details of the scheme, the call it the "Guthries Heelprick test" and it is allegedly to "check for diseases". However, I have found that NEW PARENTS ARE MOST CERTAINLY NOT TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, at least the ones I have spoken to weren't told anything.

According to the law a parent of children under the age of 18 years could "get their child/childrens' blood back" (or your own blood of course if you are over 18 and under 42) merely by asking for it in writing. However, it took me the better part of a year and I encountered an incredible amount of stalling, silly comments and questions that were totally irrelevant, and OUTRIGHT LIES! (An example of one of the lies is "oh, it will be impossible to find your cards, they are stored down the basement in no particular order" - they are actually stored neatly filed in numerical order).

Now after 42 years there is still no answer to the question: WHY ARE THEY STORES INDEFINITELY???????

DNA obtainable from blood, as in this case, is not merely mitochondrial DNA, but NUCLEAR DNA. Meaning that they provide potential access to a map of your entire genome. Not only you, but your close relatives too. Blood stored since 1969 probably means that the blood of three generations of NZers in now in the "hot little hands" of the government. Do you trust your government with all that information?

Here's a news item about it (but it doesn't say much, just assumes that the government has a perfect right to this information)
Heel Prick Test Access To Change, Tony Ryall Says | Stuff.co.nz
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now here's an update:

I found this post from another NZer on an overseas discussion forum and I am posting it in it's entirety (I contacted the guy who wrote it and asked permission), it might not be so relevant AT THIS TIME, but my guess is that IT SOON WILL BE. One of John Key's favourite comments is "NZ doesn't want to miss out ...". So does that mean that they will try this here soon? Or that they ARE ALREADY DOING IT AND WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE NZ GOVERNMENT IS GOOD AT DOING THINGS AND NOT BELIEVING THAT US PLEBS HAVE ANY RIGHT TO KNOW?

Here's the post: Called "Supreme court (USA) blocks government plan to claim ownership of DNA

Hmmn, "blood samples collected from newborns by the government", "limited" - "limited" FOR NOW I'm guessing, but I have to question why they are "collected" in the first place and why they are "indefinitely storing the blood of newborns since the mid 1980s". Also I suspect it has been going on since WAY BEFORE THE MID 1980s, as in NZ the "programme" started in 1969 and the US is way ahead of NZ in these matters, so .....

Actually, if I was in the US I'd be doing what ever it takes to regain possession of my childrens' blood NOW before it is too late. As I've said before on this forum I made sure to get the blood samples taken from my children back (did I get all of it? I'll never know, as they had no qualms about lying to me at the time and making it as difficult to do what I thought would be a simple task, as possible). This was about 20 years ago and since then they put so many obstacles in the way of anyone wanting to "get back their or their childrens' blood. They've made it so that you have to show "photo ID" and "jump through several hoops" and I wouldn't be surprised if you have to show a clean driving record or something like that or your "request" is denied.

» Supreme Court Blocks Government Plan To Claim Ownership Of DNA Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

In a long running case, a Supreme Court has ruled to limit the use of blood samples collected from newborns by the government.

The case has exposed the fact that there is an ongoing semi-covert movement by state and federal governments to claim ownership of every newborn baby’s DNA for the purpose of genetic research without the consent of individual citizens.
snip

Essentially this would mean that eventually every person’s DNA would be collected at birth, warehoused by the state in what is known as a “genomic biobank”, and sold or given away to private or governmental genetic researchers, who may manipulate, alter or splice the DNA in any way they see fit. Hundreds of samples have already been used in government comissioned studies.
Such information would represent a goldmine to employers, insurance companies, medical institutions, and big pharma.
Under such conditions we are faced with the prospect of a society that is literally the mirror image of the nightmarish vision outlined by Aldous Huxley in his 1932 novel Brave New World, where individuals are categorized in a social hierarchy according to their genetic traits.
Though the Minnesota case has received recent public attention, such DNA harvesting is not restricted to that state and is being undertaken nationwide.
The National Conference of State Legislatures lists for all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the various statutes or regulatory provisions under which newborns’ DNA is being collected.
DNA of newborns has been harvested, tested, stored and experimented with by all 50 states. In addition, all 50 states are now routinely providing these results to the Department of Homeland Security. Snip

Sections of the bill also make it clear that DNA may be used in genetic experiments and tests, both by the government and by researchers chosen to handle the DNA samples and the information that goes with them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Actually if I were you I'd be contacting the "national testing centre" at the "national womens' hospital" in Auckland to retrieve my DNA, or that of my children, ASAP.
I've already done it, it's harder today but not impossible - YET!

Yeah was well aware of this. I found this out when my son was born. Don’t quote me on this but I believe you can actually get a form requesting it be destroyed not entirely sure on that thou.

Actually I wouldn't entirely trust the "health department" to destroy the blood samples. What guarantee do you have that if you want them destroyed, it has actually been done?

It is simple (or at least it was about a year ago, if you are prepared to "jump through a lot of hoops" and comply with ridiculous demands) to just have the "blood spot cards" returned to you so that you may destroy them, and then you KNOW that it has been done. They demand "photo id" today, actually the form says "your driving licence". However, DON'T under any circumstances provide the health department with a copy of your DL, they are not police or transport department and the law states that only "a police officer WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING or an 'officer' of the transport department IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR DUTIES, may demand your DL. It took me about six months and about 10 letters to get them to promise to change the wording on the form from "yer licence" to "photo id", and they eventually agreed to do so, but I don't know if they have.

Remember that if you were born since 1969 (gee that must be 80% of the population by now) they also HAVE YOUR BLOODAND HENCE YOUR DNA!

An example of the "hurdles" put in the way to have "blood spot cards returned" is; about a year ago I did all the paperwork helping a cousin to get back the blood of her 6 month old baby. The first letter we wrote, which was simple and straightforward and should have been all that was required, got no response after a month. So I wrote back saying "where is my reply?" You wouldn't believe the cheek, the reply to that was "oh, we replied to YOUR MIDWIFE" I tell you only a government department could get away with replying to a letter, to a third party and thinking it was perfectly OK.

Do get your son's "blood spot cards returned" (the National testing centre has a website where a form is available to fill in and send - for that purpose) and if you have any more kids, MAKE SURE THAT YOU LET THE MIDWIFE KNOW THAT YOU EXPECT THE BLOOD TO BE RETURNED TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BEFORE THE BABY IS BORN!!! There is a form for you to fill out to that effect and you should be provided with written information about the "tests" and telling you what can, should and will happen. I've spoken to a lot of people about this and NO expectant mother has ever said that she was told anything or given any written information.