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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...

A new authorisation regime for warrants What the Act does Provides that both agencies must obtain a Type 1 intelligence warrant for activities targeting New Zealanders which would otherwise be unlawful. Creates a ‘triple lock’ system to protect New...

Ensuring the agencies operate legally and properly and are held to account What the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 does Increases the membership of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) to between 5 and 7 members. Requires...

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...

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...

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...

The Act provides for a single authorisation regime for the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). The regime consolidates and clarifies the powers of the NZSIS and GCSB. When is an...

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 be a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: BURROWS, Emeritus Professor John Frederick, ONZM, QC For services to the State Emeritus Professor John Burrows is a law lecturer, author, former member of the Law Commission, and was co-chairman of...

The Queen's Service Medal AFFLECK, Mrs Janet Margaret, OStJ For services as an Ambulance Officer Mrs Janet Affleck has been involved with West Otago St John since joining as a volunteer Ambulance Officer in 1990. She was Operations Manager from 1995...

Key points The government has adjusted some aspects of the processes for selecting Law Commission projects, how the Parliamentary Counsel Office should work with the Law Commission and responding to Law Commission reports on government references....

Introduction 1Cabinet has recently agreed to changes in the Financial Veto procedure. This Circular updates and replaces Cabinet Office Circular CO (98) 15, “Financial Veto Procedure” 15 October 1998. It provides: an outline of the Crown...

Introduction and key points 1The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) provides for the Minister for the Environment (and, in some instances, the Minister of Conservation) to intervene in matters of national significance under the RMA. Cabinet has...

Summary of key points 1Cabinet has agreed that it will make explicit decisions on whether draft Bills should include a provision stating that the Act will bind the Crown. This decision will be made at the policy development stage. The practical...

Summary of Key Points Cabinet has agreed that the New Zealand Government Locator Service (NZGLS) Metadata Standard will be the official New Zealand Government standard for creating discovery level metadata. The NZGLS standard provides a standardised...

Key Points Cabinet has agreed to standardise procedures for including non-official representatives on official New Zealand delegations to international meetings. Decisions about including non-official representatives in official delegations...

Summary 1 The Remuneration Authority (the Authority) is responsible for setting the remuneration of a number of individuals appointed to statutory bodies and other positions. This circular: 1.1 outlines the role of the Authority in relation to...

Introduction 1 This circular sets out guidance agreed to by Cabinet for Ministers and officials dealing with inside information relating to public issuers, including mixed ownership model companies and other companies in which the Crown has an...

Introduction 1 Cabinet has agreed to legislate (with additional admininistrative enhancements) to require the government to disclose key features of all legislation (with limited exemptions), substantive Supplementary Order Papers (SOP) (where a...

Introduction 1This Circular replaces Cabinet Office Circular CO (06) 6 Whole of Government Directions under the Crown Entities Act 2004. 2A direction to support a whole of government approach under section 107 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 (the...

Introduction 1On 15 February 2016 Cabinet approved new Cabinet Directions for the Conduct of Crown Legal Business. 2The new Directions are annexed to this Circular. Their primary purpose is to identify core Crown legal matters, to set out how those...