Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (New Zealand)

{{Infobox official post

| post = Inspector-General

| jurisdiction = New Zealand

| flag = Flag of New Zealand.svg

| flag_border = true

| appointer = Prime Minister of New Zealand

| inaugural = Hon. Justice Laurence Greig

| succession =

| constituting_instrument =

| formation = {{start date and age|1996}}

| residence =

| termlength =

| department = Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security

| body = the
Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (OIGIS)

| incumbentsince = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2020|6|8}}

| incumbent = Brendan Horsley

| imagesize = 200px

| image =

| insigniacaption =

| insigniasize = 250px

| insignia =

| website = {{URL|https://igis.govt.nz/}}

}}

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) is the official responsible for supervising New Zealand's two main intelligence agencies: the

Security Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB).

The current Inspector-General is Brendan Horsley, who commenced in the position in June 2020.{{Cite web|title=New Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security appointed|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-inspector-general-intelligence-and-security-appointed-0|access-date=2020-08-05|website=The Beehive|language=en}}

The Inspector-General and Deputy Inspector-General are both chosen by the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.

Traditionally the office had been very small, but was expanded from 2014 onwards in response to controversies over unlawful activities to include a Deputy Inspector-General, two external advisors, and a number of investigation staff.{{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2017-03/NZIS-Bill-Factsheet-9-Strengthening-oversight-of-NZSIS-and-GCSB-WEB-FINAL.pdf |title=Strengthening oversight of NZSIS and GCSB |publisher=New Zealand Government |accessdate=2023-04-06}} That expansion was accompanied by some greater resourcing and a more intensive role, in particular with the addition of an own motion power of inquiry, and quickly resulted in a significantly larger number and depth of inquiries, including into systemic issues and matters of public controversy such as an incident involving adverse allegations arising from briefings claimed to have been given by the Security Intelligence Service to the Leader of the Opposition {{cite web |url=https://igis.govt.nz/assets/Inquiries/FINAL-REPORT-INTO-THE-RELEASE-OF-INFORMATION-BY-NZSIS-IN-JULY-AND-AUGUST-2.pdf |title=Report into NZSIS release of information [release of information about Leader of the Opposition to Cameron Slater] — Nov 2014 |publisher=New Zealand Government |accessdate=2023-04-06}} and the conduct of the agencies in parts of the conflict in Afghanistan.{{cite web |url=https://igis.govt.nz/assets/Inquiries/Inquiry-into-events-in-Afghanistan.pdf |title=Report into Report of Inquiry into the role of the GCSB and the NZSIS in relation to certain specific events in Afghanistan - June 2020 |publisher=New Zealand Government |accessdate=2023-04-06}} Senior political figures have at times criticised the extent of the broadened independent oversight that followed the 2014 reforms.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/analysis-pressure-on-new-spy-watchdog-after-five-years-of-unrelenting-oversight/MNOB7NS3MNXIOVQ7DRN2MI3TYQ/ |title=Analysis: Pressure on new spy watchdog after five years of unrelenting oversight] — Nov 2014 |author= David Fisher |date=13 May 2020 |publisher=New Zealand Herald |accessdate=2023-04-06}}

Functions of the Inspector-General

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) is a statutory officer appointed under the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1996.{{cite web |url=http://www.igis.govt.nz/assets/News/Inspector-General-of-Intelligence-and-Security-Act-1996.pdf |title=Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1996 |publisher=New Zealand Government |accessdate=2014-05-16}} The position replaced an earlier Commissioner for Security Appeals, a position created in 1969.

The IGIS is an independent oversight body, with a broad function of assisting the Minister responsible for NZSIS and GCSB to ensure the activities of each agency comply with the law; ensure that complaints relating to these agencies are independently investigated;{{cite web |url=http://www.igis.govt.nz/ |title=The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security website |publisher=New Zealand Government |accessdate=2014-05-16}} and review those bodies' compliance procedures and systems. Neither the National Assessments Bureau nor the Directorate of Defence Intelligence and Security are under the oversight of the role.Section 2(1), Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1996.

The Inspector-General does not have a management role in the NZSIS or GCSB and cannot order them to take, or to cease, any activity - the role is limited to reporting concerns and findings to the Minister,[http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/cheryl-gwyn-slams-the-sis-2015110414 "Cheryl Gwyn slams the SIS"], 4 Nov 2015, 3news.co.nz who ultimately is responsible for corrective action. Reports are also made public, so far as possible, as are steps to implement recommendations.

The Inspector-General conducts inquiries into matters of concern, including individual complaints, and reports consequent findings and recommendations to the Minister. Those reports, excluding information withheld because of security concerns, may be found on the Inspector-General's website.{{cite web |url=http://www.igis.govt.nz/publications/ |title=Publications |accessdate=2014-05-16}} The Inspector-General also makes a report each year to the Minister. A copy of that report, excluding material of security concern or which may cause danger is presented to Parliament. A copy, without deletions, must be given to the Leader of the Opposition.

Details on how to make a complaint to the Inspector-General can be found under the Complaints section of the website.{{cite web |url=http://www.igis.govt.nz/complaints/ |title=Complaints |accessdate=2014-05-16}}

List of Inspectors-General

Hon. Justice Laurence Greig (1996–2004)
Hon. Justice Paul Neazor QC (2004–2013)
Hon. Justice Andrew McGechan CNZM QC (2013–2014){{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10894184 |title=Spy watchdog switch ahead of hearings |publisher=New Zealand Herald |author= Audrey Young |date=2013-07-02 |accessdate=2013-09-27}}
Hon. Justice Cheryl Gwyn (2014–2019){{cite web |url=http://beehive.govt.nz/release/new-inspector-general-intelligence-and-security-appointed |title=Inspector General Intelligence and Security appointed |publisher=Beehive |date=2014-04-23 |accessdate=2014-05-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/395223/inspector-general-of-intelligence-and-security-resigns|title = Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security resigns| website=Radio New Zealand |date = 25 July 2019}}
Madeleine Laracy (acting 2019–2020){{cite web|url=http://www.igis.govt.nz/about/|title=The Office of the Inspector-General|publisher=IGIS|date=2019-08-01|accessdate=2020-04-21|archive-date=27 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527222853/http://www.igis.govt.nz/about/|url-status=dead}}
Brendan Horsley (2020–present)

List of Deputy Inspectors-General

Ben Keith (2014-2017)
Madeleine Laracy (2017-2019)
Graeme Speden (2020–present)

References

External links

[http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/0047/latest/DLM392285.html Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1996]
{{official website|url=http://www.igis.govt.nz}}

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Category:New Zealand intelligence agencies