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It is no secret that New Zealand has agencies whose job it is to protect our
security through the collection and analysis of information or intelligence.
Equally, it is no
secret that there are people and organisations that want to keep secret information
about activities that could damage New Zealand's national interest. In turn, our security and
intelligence agencies do not want to reveal that they have obtained the information and
how they have obtained it. Disclosure of these secrets would seriously undermine the
agencies' abilities to continue to do their jobs.
Those involved with our security and intelligence agencies have, in the past, tended to keep any information about themselves to themselves. In the absence of fact, suspicion flourishes. What do these agencies get up to? Who controls them? Do Ministers really know what's going on, or are these agencies out of control? What's to stop them spying on you and me?
These are fair questions. They demand answers. The answers are not secret.
This publication is designed to answer those questions. The only ones it does not answer are the operational, or "how", questions - because the detail about how the agencies go about their jobs must stay secret if they are to remain effective.
The publication begins with an overview from Sir Geoffrey Palmer, a former Prime Minister and leading constitutional lawyer. Sir Geoffrey was asked to give his views on why New Zealand needs security and intelligence agencies, on the effectiveness of the legislation, and on other measures that ensure these agencies are accountable to citizens through Parliament and do not infringe upon the civil rights and privacy of New Zealanders.
This is followed by a brief description of the New Zealand intelligence and security arrangements.
The next sections look at each of the four intelligence and security agencies:
Each section covers the agency's:
The booklet ends with a directory of the New Zealand security and intelligence community and a formal description of the roles of the key security and intelligence committees.