How New Zealand manages its security and intelligence agencies
Conclusion
This publication has sought to demonstrate five important points:
- Intelligence and security agencies play an important role in protecting the security of
New Zealanders and the sovereignty of New Zealand.
- Intelligence and security agencies are not new. In all cases, they have been part of
government for a number of decades. What is new is a growing awareness that, while
their operations must remain secret, information about the role and accountability of
our intelligence and security agencies should be available to the public.
- Three of the four operational agencies - GCSB, EAB and DDIS - are concerned only
with foreign intelligence. The SIS deals with both domestic and foreign intelligence
within a clearly defined legislative framework.
- None of the agencies has police powers. New Zealand does not have a secret police
force.
- New Zealand has good legislation that demands that our security and intelligence
agencies operate within the law and do not infringe upon the rights and privacy of
law-abiding New Zealand citizens.
If you want to know more about any of these organisations, please consult the directory.
