Tēnā koe,

Thank you for your Official Information Act request.

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than 20 working days after the day that your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact [NZSIS request email].

Ngā mihi,
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: Harold <[FYI request #15429 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 May 2021 2:48 PM
To: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - National terrorism threat level annual review 2021

Dear New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,

I request a copy of the annual review of the national terrorism threat level, completed February 2021.

Yours faithfully,

Harold

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #15429 email]

Is [NZSIS request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Security Intelligence Service? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Oscar

We refer to your official information request below.

The Official Information Act 1982 requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20 working days after the day that we received your request. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit and we are, therefore, writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our decision to 23 June 2021. This extension is required because the consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: Harold <[FOI #15429 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 May 2021 2:48 PM
To: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - National terrorism threat level annual review 2021

Dear New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,

I request a copy of the annual review of the national terrorism threat level, completed February 2021.

Yours faithfully,

Harold

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #15429 email]

Is [NZSIS request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Security Intelligence Service? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections

Dear Harold,

Please find attached a response to your OIA request for a copy of the annual review of the national terrorism threat level.

Kind regards
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: Harold <[FOI #15429 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 May 2021 2:48 PM
To: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - National terrorism threat level annual review 2021

Dear New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,

I request a copy of the annual review of the national terrorism threat level, completed February 2021.

Yours faithfully,

Harold

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #15429 email]

Is [NZSIS request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Security Intelligence Service? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Harold,

Thank you for your email. The reason that a different approach has been taken to your request than the requests you refer to is because of the currency of the document you requested.

The other documents requested were the 2015 CTAG Threat Assessment, and assessments from 2017-2019. More information could be released in those instances because the information was three to six years old, so release of the information has less impact on current investigations and operations. Additionally, much of the information in these documents had been covered in the Royal Commission of Inquiry, so was already in the public domain.

As the document you requested is from the last six months, the release of much of the information within the document would impact current counter-terrorism investigations. Due to the amount of information that would need to be redacted in the document, we consider that a redacted document would be hard to follow and a summary provides the information in a more readable format.

If you would like to receive a redacted version of the document, please let us know.

Kind regards
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: Harold <[FOI #15429 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 22 June 2021 11:16 AM
To: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - National terrorism threat level annual review 2021

Dear NZSIS,

Thank you for your reply.

I notice NZSIS have taken a different approach to fulfilling this request than a similar request made by Azad Khan on this website, where the CTAG assessments themselves were released (albeit with redactions):

https://fyi.org.nz/request/14392-assessm...

I think it is fair to say that the assessments released to Khan reveal more to the public about NZSIS' work and their understanding of the threat environment than the summary you have provided to me.

I also wonder if a release processed the same way as Azad's would shed light on topics not mentioned in your summary, as for instance CTAG's understanding of the affect of COVID-19 on the threat environment - a topic which presumably does not warrant withholding as Director Kitteridge has referred to it publically.

To improve my understanding of NZSIS' decision-making process, I would appreciate it if you are able to explain why my request required a different treatment to Azad's. This will help me decide if I should refer this to the Ombudsman, as at the moment it does seem to me like this is warranted.

Yours sincerely,

Harold

-----Original Message-----

Dear Harold,

Please find attached a response to your OIA request for a copy of the annual review of the national terrorism threat level.

Kind regards
NZSIS

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #15429 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections

Hi Harold

We will prepare the document for release and send it to you as soon as we can.

Thanks
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: Harold <[FYI request #15429 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 23 June 2021 12:41 PM
To: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - National terrorism threat level annual review 2021

Dear NZSIS,

Thank you for the reply, it was informative.

I would like receive a redacted version of the assessment.

Yours sincerely,

Harold

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Harold,

Thank you for your email. The reason that a different approach has been taken to your request than the requests you refer to is because of the currency of the document you requested.

The other documents requested were the 2015 CTAG Threat Assessment, and assessments from 2017-2019. More information could be released in those instances because the information was three to six years old, so release of the information has less impact on current investigations and operations. Additionally, much of the information in these documents had been covered in the Royal Commission of Inquiry, so was already in the public domain.

As the document you requested is from the last six months, the release of much of the information within the document would impact current counter-terrorism investigations. Due to the amount of information that would need to be redacted in the document, we consider that a redacted document would be hard to follow and a summary provides the information in a more readable format.

If you would like to receive a redacted version of the document, please let us know.

Kind regards
NZSIS

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #15429 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Harold,

Please see attached a response to your request, as well as a redacted copy of the assessment.

Kind regards
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: Harold <[FOI #15429 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 23 June 2021 12:41 PM
To: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - National terrorism threat level annual review 2021

Dear NZSIS,

Thank you for the reply, it was informative.

I would like receive a redacted version of the assessment.

Yours sincerely,

Harold

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Harold,

Thank you for your email. The reason that a different approach has been taken to your request than the requests you refer to is because of the currency of the document you requested.

The other documents requested were the 2015 CTAG Threat Assessment, and assessments from 2017-2019. More information could be released in those instances because the information was three to six years old, so release of the information has less impact on current investigations and operations. Additionally, much of the information in these documents had been covered in the Royal Commission of Inquiry, so was already in the public domain.

As the document you requested is from the last six months, the release of much of the information within the document would impact current counter-terrorism investigations. Due to the amount of information that would need to be redacted in the document, we consider that a redacted document would be hard to follow and a summary provides the information in a more readable format.

If you would like to receive a redacted version of the document, please let us know.

Kind regards
NZSIS

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #15429 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections