National Security Assessments

We assess national security threats to help government agencies with decisions.

We do these assessments when people seek access to sensitive information or assets, or a location where the information or assets are secured. We also assess people seeking physical entry to New Zealand to understand their relevance to national security.

Our national security assessment work includes:

  • Security screening at the border
  • Countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
  • Assessing the security risks of space and high-altitude activities
  • Overseas investment.

We support border security agencies to prevent people who may pose a risk to national security from entering the country.

Each year we screen the details of thousands of travellers before they enter the country. We aim to identify travellers with links to:

  • International extremist groups
  • Espionage activities
  • Weapons of mass destruction technology.

We also have a statutory responsibility under the Citizenship Act 1977 and the Civil Aviation Act 1990 to screen individuals:

  • Applying for citizenship
  • Seeking access to secure airport environments.

New Zealand is technologically capable in areas that could be used to produce Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Examples include our space industry, biotechnology research, and drone technology. This technology can be attractive to people who want it for unethical purposes.

We advise Immigration New Zealand about the transfer of knowledge or expertise that could be used in WMD programmes. We also conduct national security assessments for individuals who meet certain criteria.

Find out more about New Zealand’s international obligations on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs website.(external link)

We undertake national security threat assessments for all activities licensed or permitted under New Zealand’s Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017.

We do this together with the Government Communications Security Bureau.

The Act provides a regulatory framework to manage any risks to New Zealand’s national security and interests.

We provide national security advice on outer space and high-altitude activities to the Minister responsible for the NZSIS. Our advice informs the ministerial consultation required by the Act.

We support the Overseas Investment Office under the Overseas Investment Act 2005 by providing national security screening services and advice on proposed transactions that may pose significant national security risk.

In performing this work, we are guided by a non-exhaustive set of risk factors that has been endorsed by Cabinet. Specifically, we provide national security advice to inform the Overseas Investment Office on:

  • Whether the foreign actor has access to sensitive information or information that may be used to exploit or advance their strategic position
  • Whether the investment increases the foreign actor’s ability to influence social or political spheres
  • Whether the investment would undermine New Zealand’s national security
  • Whether the investment would give the foreign actor the ability to disrupt domestic supply chains to weaken New Zealand’s economic wellbeing and security
  • Whether the investment would increase the foreign actor’s access to other means of influence.