- Posted November 01, 2023
- Media Releases
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) acknowledges the recommendations of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s (IGIS) inquiry report into the use and sharing of vetting information [PDF, 668 KB](external link).
One of NZSIS’s core functions is to undertake the vetting process to assess a candidate’s suitability to work in roles throughout government and the private sector that are exposed to sensitive government information.
Under s220 of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, information obtained as part of the vetting assessment process may only be used for the vetting assessment, another vetting assessment or for counter-intelligence (such as countering the threat of unauthorised disclosure of official information by a clearance holder).
On a limited number of occasions, the NZSIS has sought to access vetting information using an intelligence warrant for matters relating to national security, including counter terrorism, and for sharing with law enforcement.
On this issue, the previous IGIS provided a differing view to the current IGIS regarding the use of intelligence warrants to authorise access to, and use of, vetting information in limited circumstances. Our approach to using vetting information was informed by the previous IGIS’s position.
Alongside this, the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 has been subject to a statutory review, and the use of vetting information and s220 [PDF, 8.6 MB](external link) was considered as part of that. The review made a recommendation to amend s220 to enable the disclosure of vetting information in certain circumstances.
We await the outcome of the policy response to the review.