New Zealand
Security Intelligence Service
PO Box 900, Wellington
P +64 4 472 6170
F +64 4 472 8209
www.nzsis.govt.nz
27 January 2022
Scott
[FYI request #17682 email]
Tēnā koe Scott,
Official information request
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 23 November 2021 seeking
the following information from the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service:
I would like to request copies of all advice received by the NZSIS on the topic of ethical
use of data analytics, including from the Stats NZ Data Ethics Advisory Group, Prime
Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Office of the Privacy Commissioner, and any other
agency which NZSIS has asked for this advice.
On 8 December 2021 you agreed to refine your request to exclude email correspondence.
On 17 December 2021 you were advised of an extension to the time limit for responding to
this request, due to the consultations necessary to make a decision. Thank you for your
patience while we prepared a response.
NZSIS’s approach to data ethics
I thought it would be useful to provide you with additional information about the NZSIS’s
approach to ethical use of data.
Developing a data ethics framework is key to ensuring NZSIS is treating its data with care
and making ethical decisions with data.
To date, workshops have been undertaken and a set of draft data ethics principles
developed, though these are yet to be endorsed within NZSIS. NZSIS has also engaged with
the New Zealand Statistics Ethics Advisory Board for advice. Though not a member of the
Data Algorithm Charter due to NZSIS work being largely classified, NZSIS is intending to
replicate the aims of the charter to ensure the same level of accountability. Substantial work
remains to fully develop the data ethics framework and progresses as capacity and priorities
allow.
Response
There are two documents that relate to your request.
1. Record of Meeting: 15 May 2020 meeting with Statistics New Zealand and NZSIS
regarding Data Ethics
2. Record of Meeting: 4 August 2020 meeting with Statistics New Zealand, Data Ethics
Advisory Group and NZSIS Senior Leadership Team regarding Data Ethics
Copies of these documents are attached. Please note, these documents were written by
NZSIS staff as an internal record of meeting for NZSIS purposes, and do not capture the full
discussion. Internal record of meetings such as these are not reviewed by the other agencies
who attended, and should not be considered official minutes.
The names of NZSIS staff are withheld under section 6(a) of the OIA, as release would
prejudice the security of New Zealand.
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.
Yours sincerely
Rebecca Kitteridge
Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Pā Whakamarumaru
Director-General of Security