New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) employees need to have the ability to acquire, use and maintain any identity information necessary to maintain the covert nature of their work and keep themselves safe.
In order to ensure their identities are kept secret they may use cover (to keep the identity of their employer secret) or ‘assumed identity information’ (to support an alias).
There needs to be certainty that employees (and anyone legitimately assisting them, such as a human source) will not be exposed to civil or criminal prosecution as a result of their work when they act in good faith, in a reasonable manner and in accordance with the law.
In this section you can read more about what the New Zealand Intelligence and Security Act 2017 proposes regarding cover,assumed identity information and immunity from legal liabilities.