20 December 2021
Sebastian
[FYI request #17661 email]
Tēnā koe Sebastian,
Official information request
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 22 November 2021 seeking
copies of the following documents from the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
(NZSIS):
1. Joint Intelligence Customer Centre Programme Business Case
2. Low-Side Programme Business Case
3. The Current NZIC Four Year Plan
As the documents you have requested related to both the NZSIS and the Government
Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) we are providing a joint response to your request.
The Joint Intelligence Customer Centre Programme was funded within existing baselines by
the NZSIS, GCSB and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. As this programme
did not meet the criteria set by The Treasury to require a business case, and was an internal
change proposal, no such document was prepared. As such, we must refuse you request for
this document under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the document you have requested does not
exist.
We must refuse your request for a copy of the Low-Side Programme Business Case under
section 6(a) of the OIA. This business case includes detailed information regarding the NZSIS
and GCSB’s capabilities and operational processes and release would be detrimental to the
security and defence of New Zealand.
On 30 November 2021 you clarified with our office that the NZIC Four Year Plan you are
seeking is a high-level overview produced for the current four year investment period,
similar to a document previously released by The Treasury1. The document you are referring
to was prepared for the NZIC Strategy, Capability and Resourcing Review in 2016; a similar
document has not been prepared for this four year period. The document most relevant to
your request is the
Statement of Strategic Intentions for the GCSB and NZSIS for 2020 – 2024,
which was presented to the Intelligence and Security Committee in September 2020. Please
find a copy attached.
1
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2017-11/b16-3534344.pdf
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[NZSIS request email]. 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
Andrew Hampton
Rebecca Kitteridge
Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Tira Tiaki
Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Pā Whakamarumaru
Director-General of the GCSB
Director-General of Security
