The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Brendan Horsley, today released his annual report for 2022-23.
The Inspector-General (IGIS) provides independent oversight of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS).
“Significant issues this year have included the independent review of the Intelligence and Security Act, developments in NZSIS warrants, and the NZSIS’s collection of bulk personal datasets,” says Mr Horsley.
“We also did a coordinated review, with the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and the Corrections Inspectorate, of how state agencies dealt with the man who launched a terror attack in a West Auckland supermarket in September 2021. This enabled us to ask questions about how the system as a whole responds to radicalised individuals known to pose a threat.
“In the past year we published unclassified reports on two reviews and completed classified reports on others, which I expect to report on publicly in the year ahead.
“We reviewed 61 warrants issued to the agencies and dealt with 39 complaints against them. We currently have one inquiry and 12 reviews under way or near completion,” Mr Horsley added.
In its annual report, the IGIS is also required by law to ‘certify the extent to which each intelligence and security agency’s compliance systems are sound.’
“This year’s report rates both the GCSB and NZSIS as well developed in four of the five areas we assess,” says Mr Horsley. “This year I have rated both agencies lower in one area due to the number of policies overdue for review, which includes a number of joint policies.”
The annual report is available on the IGIS website: www.igis.govt.nz
Media contact (on behalf of the Inspector-General): Joe Locke, 021 636 416