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This table provides a guide to the main handling and transmission requirements
for Cabinet documents (ie submissions, minutes and agendas for Cabinet and
Cabinet committees) with a classification and endorsement under the revised
system for the protection of official information. Full details of the handling,
transmission and disposal requirements for classified material are provided
in the [Security in the Government Sector manual, www.security.govt.nz/sigs/].
The minimum handling and transmission requirements for Cabinet documents without a specific classification is In Confidence.
All Cabinet documents are delivered by hand by the Cabinet Office to Ministers' offices. Documents for Ministers and departments are enveloped by the Cabinet Office when required. It is the responsibility of Ministers' offices to ensure that all Cabinet documents, whether or not they are enveloped by the Cabinet Office, are conveyed securely to their Minister's departments (or other government agencies). All Cabinet documents should be kept in secure storage when not in use.
Classifications/Endorsements for Public Interest and Personal Privacy Reasons
| Previous System |
Revised System |
Paper Transmission |
Paper Storage |
Electronic Transmission1 |
Electronic Storage |
|
Sensitive
|
Must be double enveloped if sending by courier. Cabinet Office delivers papers to Ministers' offices: |
Keep in secure storage when not in use. |
Must be marked Sensitive. May be transmitted electronically (ie email) only if encrypted. Facsimile systems can be used (within NZ) for infrequent transmission. |
Electronic files must be protected against illicit internal use or intrusion by external parties. |
|
| Budget Secret |
Budget: Sensitive |
As above |
As above |
As above |
As above |
| Commercial Secret |
Commercial: Sensitive |
As above |
As above |
As above |
As above |
| In Confidence |
In Confidence |
Must be enveloped if sending by courier. Cabinet Office delivers papers to Ministers' offices: |
As above |
Must be marked In Confidence. Subject to risk assessment, may be transmitted electronically (ie email) without being encrypted. Facsimile systems can be used (within New Zealand) for infrequent transmission. |
As above |
| Commercial: In Confidence |
Commercial: In Confidence |
As above |
As above |
As above |
As above |
| Staff: In Confidence |
Staff: In Confidence |
As above |
As above |
As above |
As above |
| Restricted [This term will now be used as a national security classification. See below] |
Replace with Sensitive or In Confidence (or use a national security classification if appropriate) |
As above for Sensitive or In Confidence |
As above |
As above for Sensitive or In Confidence. |
As above |
Classifications for National Security Reasons
| Previous System |
Revised System |
Paper Transmission |
Paper Storage |
Electronic Transmission |
Electronic Storage |
| Top Secret
Secret
|
Top Secret
Secret
|
Must be double enveloped. Can only be conveyed by hand by authorised staff. Cabinet Office delivers papers to Ministers' offices: |
Must be located in approved security container when not in use.4 |
Information transmitted must be encrypted using high grade systems. |
Only on systems certified and accredited by GCSB. |
| Restricted |
Must be double enveloped if sending by courier. Cabinet Office delivers papers to Ministers' offices: |
Keep in secure storage when not in use. |
Must be marked Restricted. May be transmitted electronically (ie email) only if encrypted.5 Facsimile systems can be used (within NZ) for infrequent transmission. |
Electronic files must be protected against illicit internal use or intrusion by external parties. |
Footnotes
1. An originating agency identification, and a confidentiality and privacy statement are required for all information transmitted by email or facsimile.
2. The Cabinet Office will envelope papers for Ministers that have a "Personal To" endorsement.
3. The encryption system must be approved by GCSB [eg the SEEmail system].
4. The NZSIS maintains a catalogue of approved equipment.
5. An originating agency identification and a confidentiality and privacy statement are required for all information transmitted electronically.