New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS or SIS) is an intelligence agency of the New Zealand government.
Contents |
[edit] Purpose
The Security Intelligence Service is a civilian organisation, and takes no part in the enforcement of security (although it has limited powers to intercept communications and search residences). Its role is intended to be advisory, providing the government with information on threats to national security or national interests. It also advises other government agencies about their own internal security measures, and is responsible for performing checks on government employees who require security clearance. The SIS is responsible for most of the government's counter-intelligence work.
The SIS' stated aims are to:
- "Protect and promote New Zealand's defence, foreign policy, and national economic interests."
- "Protect New Zealanders and their property."
- "Detect and prevent serious overseas-based crime which could affect this country."
- "Protect against threats from terrorism and espionage."
In 2007, it was reported that the SIS wished to expand its role into fighting organised crime.[1]
[edit] Organisation
The SIS is based in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. It also has branches in Auckland and Christchurch. It has between 110 and 140 permanent staff, somewhat less than the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) — New Zealand's other significant intelligence agency. At around 43.5 million New Zealand dollars, its budget is higher than that of the GCSB.
The SIS has connections with foreign intelligence organisations, particularly in the United Kingdom, and Australia.
The SIS is headed by the Director of Security, and is watched over by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and the Intelligence and Security Committee. The SIS itself reports to a Cabinet minister with responsibility for intelligence (traditionally the Prime Minister).
The SIS was established in 1956. An Act of Parliament covering it, the Security Intelligence Act, was passed in 1969. Various amendments have since been made to the Security Intelligence Act — the most controversial was probably Robert Muldoon's 1977 amendment, which expanded the SIS's powers of monitoring considerably. The 1977 amendment saw sizable protests outside Parliament.
Many claim that extensive political and judicial oversight are necessary to keep agencies on task, and to ensure that limited intelligence gathering resources are not wasted. It should be noted that the New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for terrorism in New Zealand, and they are the most appropriate government agency for the public to contact if they have information regarding terrorism in New Zealand.
[edit] Past Directors
The NZSIS has had six directors to date.
| Director | Served | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Gilbert | 1956 - 1976 | Military officer |
| Paul Molineaux | 1976 - 1983 | Judge |
| Lin Smith | 1983 - 1991 | Military officer |
| Don McIver | 1991 - 1999 | Military officer |
| Richard Woods | 1999 - 2006 | Diplomat |
| Warren Tucker | 2006 - Now | GCSB |
[edit] Public profile
The SIS has been involved in a number of public incidents and controversies since its creation in 1956.
- In 1974, the SIS was the source of information that led to the arrest of Bill Sutch, an economist and former civil servant, on charges of spying for the Soviet Union. Sutch was acquitted, and the SIS was criticised for having accused him in the first place, although some still maintain that the SIS was correct in its accusation.
- In 1981, the SIS was criticised for drawing up a list of 20 "subversives" who participated in protests against the 1981 Springbok Tour, a visit by South Africa's apartheid rugby team. That singling out of individuals as "subversives" was deemed by many to be a violation of the right to protest government decisions.
- Also in 1981, an SIS operative inadvertently left a briefcase containing sandwiches, Listener magazine and a diary on a journalist's fence in Wellington. The briefcase was commonly but mistakenly described as containing a Penthouse magazine and pie.
- In 1985, the SIS failed to detect the French operation in which DGSE operatives bombed the Greenpeace vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, killing a photographer. This was probably the most significant case of espionage or terrorism in New Zealand.
- In 1996, two SIS agents were discovered breaking into the home of Aziz Choudry, an organiser with GATT Watchdog, which was holding a public forum and rally against an APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Trade Ministers meeting hosted in Christchurch, prompting charges that the SIS had violated his rights, and had acted illegally. After the Court of Appeal ruled that the SIS had indeed illegally entered his property, exceeding their legislated powers of interception, Parliament moved swiftly to amend the NZSIS Act once again to explicitly give the SIS powers of entry into private property, although public submissions on the proposed amendment were weighted heavily against any such expansion of their powers. In 1999, Choudry was awarded an out-of-court settlement and an apology from the Crown.
- In 2002, the SIS reported that Ahmed Zaoui, an Algerian seeking asylum in New Zealand, was a security risk and recommended his deportation. However, this recommendation was challenged. The SIS issued a security risk certificate pursuant to section 114 of the Immigration Act 1987 and Zaoui was detained in a penal institution under a warrant of commitment. The SIS refused to release some highly classified information which it used to determine Zaoui's status as a security risk. Alleged comments made by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, who monitors the SIS, were considered by some to be openly biased against Zaoui. As a result of the resulting controversy, the Inspector General, Laurie Greig, resigned in March 2004. Former Solicitor General, Paul Neazor, was appointed to replace Greig. The security risk certificate on Zaoui has since been lifted by the SIS, and he has been allowed to stay in New Zealand. [2]
- In 2004, allegations surfaced that the SIS was spying on Māori individuals and organisations, including those associated with the new Māori Party, for political purposes under the codename "Operation Leaf." A government inquiry led by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security later rejected these claims in April 2005, however. As a result, the Prime Minister, Helen Clark said the allegations were a hoax and asked the Sunday Star Times newspaper that printed them to apologise to their readers. A full apology and retraction was subsequently printed on the front page of the paper.
[edit] See also
- New Zealand intelligence agencies
- Foreign espionage in New Zealand
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service
[edit] External links
- New Zealand Security Intelligence Service website
- Secret Power, New Zealand's Role in the International Spy Network; Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson, NZ; ISBN 0-908802-35-8; 1996 (ONLINE EDITION)
|
|||||
