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Legislation passed in 2013 included a requirement for periodic reviews of the intelligence and security agencies. In March 2016, Sir Michael Cullen and Dame Patsy Reddy presented the First Independent Review of Intelligence and Security to Parliament....

The protection of New Zealand’s national security is one of 3 core objectives of our security and intelligence agencies. But what exactly is ‘national security’? It’s a difficult concept to define as it needs to be able to respond to different...

What the New Zealand Intelligence and Security Act 2017 does Establishes the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) as a government department and applies relevant provisions of the State Sector Act 1988. The Government Communications...

Intelligence agencies have capabilities that are intrusive and can impact on an individual’s privacy and human rights. The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) must obtain an...

While the Act provides for a single authorisation regime for the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), different powers are available to each agency under the Act. This reflects the fact...

Protected disclosures and offences for unauthorised disclosures What the Act does Consolidates, simplifies, and strengthens the existing offences related to unauthorised disclosure. Clarifies that protected disclosures regarding classified...

In order to support New Zealand’s national security, the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) andNew Zealand Security Intelligence Service(NZSIS) need to access information held by public and private sector organisations and individuals...

Improving information sharing between NZSIS and GCSB and others. What the Act does Gives the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) direct access to certain government databases. Allows...

The sharing of information, technology and expertise with other countries. What the Act does Makes it clear that sharing information with other countries must be in accordance with New Zealand law and human rights obligations and in accordance with...

The National Assessments Bureau is New Zealand's lead agency for intelligence assessment. What the New Zealand Intelligence and Security Act 2017 does Sets out the role of the National Assessments Bureau (NAB) in legislation for the first time. NAB...

In this section are some examples of how the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) have used intelligence to keep New Zealand safe from espionage, terrorist activity, and cyber threats.

This is a declassified case study on how the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) conducts a security intelligence investigation. Step 1: The initial lead The NZSIS is notified of a new threat. The source could be a foreign liaison partner...

Espionage is the attempt to obtain secret or confidential information by covert means. Espionage often targets sensitive political and military information and is increasingly directed at economic and commercial information as well. Espionage has been...

The cyber threat The internet has enriched the lives of New Zealanders but it has also increased our vulnerability. People with malicious intent now target New Zealand from afar through the same communications infrastructure that New Zealanders,...

Cabinet papers, and the Regulatory Impact Statement, for the Intelligence and Security Act 2017. Cabinet papers Cabinet Paper 1 - Overview and key issues. CABINET PAPER 1pdf794.92 KB Cabinet Paper 2 - Warranting and authorisation framework...

Simply put, intelligence is information which is collected, brought together, assessed and then used to make decisions. The phrase 'intelligence' is commonly used to refer to the work of intelligence and security agencies. Why do we need it? Like all...

Ensuring identities are kept secret What the Act does Consolidates existing measures enabling the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) to acquire, use and maintain ‘assumed...

Provisions for employees of NZSIS, GCSB and those assisting them What the Act does Creates a single immunities framework for both the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). NZSIS...

To prepare New Zealand's National Security System (NSS) to be able to conduct an effective response incorporating recovery planning to a significant incident or emerging threat on and offshore.

Official Information Act 1982 request received on 1 Sep 2018 A copy of the terms of reference for both the ODESC governance boards. Information being released  

This Cabinet paper has been proactively released by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, on behalf of Hon Kris Faafoi, Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media. Accessible HTML version Only the first...

This Cabinet paper and related Cabinet minutes have been proactively released by the Minister for National Security and Intelligence. Accessible HTML version Only the first two paragraphs of the Cabinet Paper are extracted below in HTML....

Terrorism is a growing international problem and New Zealand is not immune. Counter-terrorism is an important part of the work of the New Zealand Intelligence Community. The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and New Zealand Security...

In this section is everything you need to know about New Zealand's Intelligence and Security Act 2017. In March 2016, Sir Michael Cullen and Dame Patsy Reddy presented their findings from the First Independent Review of Intelligence and Security in New...

Watch Groups are formed in response to a potential, emerging or actual event. They are a tool to obtain situational clarity in what is often a chaotic environment, and are responsible for ensuring that systems are in place to ensure effective management...

“National security” in the New Zealand context encompasses more than the traditional definition of security as solely the preserve of defence, law enforcement and intelligence agencies. New Zealand takes an “all hazards – all risks” approach to national...

Seven key objectives underpin the “all hazards” approach New Zealand takes to national security. Ensuring public safety — providing for, and mitigating risks to, the safety of citizens and communities (all hazards and threats, whether...

The New Zealand Government’s responsibility for national security involves balancing many competing interests, including short-term and long-term, domestic and external, public and private, and financial and non-financial. To help the Government strike...

New Zealand’s National Security System provides for a coordinated government response. In it: risks are identified and managed; the response is timely and appropriate; national resources are applied effectively; adverse outcomes are minimised;...

Central government bears the main responsibility for New Zealand’s national security. This is due to a combination of its primary responsibility for international relations, its ability to direct civil and military assets, the technical and operational...

For any national security risk (or major element of such a risk), a lead agency is identified. The lead agency is the agency with the primary mandate for managing a particular hazard or risk across the “4Rs” of risk reduction, readiness, response and...

“ODESC” is the overall phrase used to describe the formal structure of senior officials which manages national security in New Zealand in both its governance and its response modes. ODESC is also the name for the committee of Chief Executives which,...

Official Information Act 1982 request received on 12 May 2020 "Official Information Act request for reports including the term 'Asian organised crime'." Information being released DPMC provided a release document with of information in scope of the...

One of the most important responsibilities of any government is to ensure the security and territorial integrity of the nation, including protecting the institutions that sustain confidence, good governance, and prosperity. For this to happen, a...

This handbook sets out New Zealand’s arrangements with respect both to the governance of national security and in response to a potential, emerging or actual national security crisis. National Security System Handbook - August 2016pdf963.36 KB...

The National Security Intelligence Priorities - Whakaarotau Marumaru Aotearoa - outline key areas of interest and define where intelligence can support government to make informed decisions about national security.  The 13 National...