The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Brendan Horsley, released today his annual report for 2023-24.
The Inspector-General (IGIS) provides independent oversight of New Zealand’s intelligence agencies, the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS).
“Significant matters for oversight this year have included the use of class warrants for individually-focused intelligence investigations; open source intelligence collection; and the management of human rights risks in intelligence sharing,” Mr Horsley said.
“I published review reports on these subjects in the past year and continue to monitor intelligence sharing, particularly where there is any connection to current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
“This year I completed and reported publicly on a substantial inquiry into the GCSB’s hosting of a signals intelligence system deployed by a foreign partner. I published unclassified reports on five reviews and completed classified reports on others, which I expect to report on publicly in the year ahead. My office reviewed 44 warrants issued to the agencies and dealt with 22 complaints against them.
“As required by law, I assess in my annual report the soundness of the intelligence and security agency’s compliance systems. In most respects these are well developed in both agencies.
“This year again, however, I assessed both agencies as having under-developed operational policy and procedure, though both have made real progress in tackling backlogs of policy overdue for review. Additionally, this year I have rated the NZSIS’s internal compliance programme as under-developed, with a key factor being its persistent inability to complete its audit programme.”
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