NEW ZEALAND IN THE CROSSHAIRS

Hackers sent patient data stolen during an attack on New Zealand’s Waikato District health system to local media outlets on Wednesday, with the outlets declining to publish the sensitive information.

The Waikato District Health Board (DHB) confirmed the attack in a statement Wednesday, saying that it is “aware that the media have received what appears to be personal and patient information from Waikato DHB information systems.”

“Media outlets have confirmed they will not make this information public and have referred it to the Police,” the statement read. “This is an ongoing criminal investigation and Waikato DHB are working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre, Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), The Privacy Commission and NZ Police to respond, remediate and recover from this incident.”

Kevin Snee, the chief executive of the Waikato DHB, said in a statement Wednesday that authorities are working to address the hack, not commenting on who may be behind it.

“This is a criminal investigation and we have every confidence that it is being dealt with by NZ Police and cyber security experts,” Snee said. “Care and safety of patients remains our highest priority, and we must concentrate on health services and supporting our staff to do their job.”