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National Assessments Committee (NAC)
Terms of Reference
May 2021
Purpose
1.
The National Assessments Committee (NAC) brings together the agencies which produce
all-source strategic intelligence assessments relevant to the National Security and
Intelligence Priorities (NSIPs).
2.
The National Assessments Committee wil have a focus on:
a. ensuring best practice in relation to the assessment of intelligence;
INFORMATION ACT 1982
i. improving information-sharing and dissemination of material between
agencies including forward work programmes;
ii. identifying opportunities for collaboration and avoiding unnecessary
duplication of work;
iii. ensuring consistency of reporting and analytical standards through
identifying opportunities for shared standards and common language;
iv. identifying opportunities for shared training and development;
b. commissioning the production of in-depth ‘National Assessments’ as required.
These wil be reflected in a National Assessments work programme;
c. Oversee the production of an annual comprehensive ‘National Strategic
Assessment’ to help inform the setting of priorities for intelligence collection and
analysis (the National Security and Intelligence Priorities);
Membership
3. The NAC wil be chaired by the Director, National Assessments Bureau. Membership of
the NAC is by invitation, at the discretion of the Chair. The membership of the NAC
includes representatives from those agencies with responsibilities for all-source strategic
intelligence assessment:
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• National Assessments Bureau
• NZ Defence Intelligence
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• NZSIS (Intelligence Directorate and the Combined Threat Assessment
Group)
• New Zealand Police (National Intelligence Centre)
• New Zealand Customs Service
• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE Intelligence Unit)
• Ministry for Primary Industries;
4. Representation at the NAC wil be at the level of seniority that the attendee has visibility
of, and decision authority over, the respective agencies analytic function.
5. Additional attendance is by invitation of the Chair, agenda dependent.
Governance and reporting to the Security and Intelligence Board
6.
The NAC is a sub-committee of SIB. A regular report, incorporating the national
assessments work programme, will be provided to SIB on a six-monthly basis.
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7.
The Terms of Reference for the NAC will be reviewed by mid-2022.
NAC administrative arrangements
8.
The NAC will meet at least monthly – and more often if required. The National
Assessments Bureau will provide secretariat services.
9.
The National Assessments Bureau will manage the coordination and distribution of draft
papers, as well as the distribution of approved National Assessments according to agreed
distribution lists.
10. NAB will provide templates for the National Assessments as well as product processing
checklists to ensure that all National Assessments are developed in a consistent manner.
11. All draft National Assessments must be developed in collaboration with all agencies
represented on the National Assessments Committee.
12. Difference of opinion concerning the substance or judgments of a National Assessment
which are unable to be resolved amongst core-members will, at the request of the
dissenting member, be formally recorded in the National Assessment as a dissenting
view, prior to its release.
13. The Chair of the NAC, in consultation with the NAC members, will have final sign-off for
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all papers issued by the National Assessments Committee.
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