Working with others

We work with New Zealand government agencies by contributing to relevant cross-agency Cabinet decisions, conducting joint operational work, sharing specialist capabilities and undertaking joint operational training initiatives.

These agencies include the Government Communications Security Bureau, the New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police, the Department of Corrections, the New Zealand Customs Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Ministry of Business Innovation, and Employment.

Direct Access Agreements

The Intelligence and Security Act 2017 enables the Minister Responsible for the NZSIS to enter into agreements with the Ministers of Internal Affairs, Immigration, Customs, and Police for direct access to certain databases that are necessary for us to perform our functions.

The Minister Responsible for the NZSIS has entered into agreements with the Minister of Immigration and the Minister of Customs to access certain databases for specific information where necessary, held by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS).

The agreements are provided below and on the MBIE and NZCS websites, in accordance with the Intelligence and Security Act 2017.

In addition to the two agreements above, the Minister Responsible for the NZSIS has entered into an agreement with the Minister of Internal Affairs relating to birth, death, marriage, civil union and name-change information held by the Registrar-General and citizenship information held by the Secretary for Internal Affairs.

New Zealand is part of a global intelligence community and interacts with a range of international public authorities. This includes those from members of the Five Eyes network, being:

• Australia
• Canada
• The United Kingdom
• The United States of America.

This network provides New Zealand with avenues to exchange information on security issues of a global nature. Through the network we are able to share intelligence, stay informed of global security issues, ensure the safety of New Zealanders located offshore and, where required, draw on the knowledge and capabilities of partners.

We also have productive relationships with a host of other liberal democracies that we share similar values with.

As reflected in both the Ministerial Policy Statement and internal policy, when cooperating with overseas public authorities NZSIS acts in accordance with New Zealand law and all human rights obligations recognised in New Zealand law in the performance of its function.