Tēnā koe,

On 8 August 2014 the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service responded to a request for information by Joshua Grainger made through the FYI.org.nz website. The NZSIS provided a copy of its Policy on the Release of Information, along with excerpts of its intranet pages detailing its approaches to the Official Information Act (the Act) requests.

The record of this request can be found at: https://fyi.org.nz/request/1722-manuals-...

I would like to request the current edition(s) of these documents or their successors or equivalents.

I am also interested in your approach to assessing material for release when information that is identified as being within the scope of a request for information is classified, given that the criteria for information classification and the statutory withholding criteria under the Act differ.

For example, if a file that is determined to be “in scope” has a classification of Top Secret, do you undertake a fresh review of the contents of the file against the withholding criteria in the Act, or do you rely on the document’s classification as grounds to apply (for example) s 6(a) of the Act without further inquiry?

If there are any documents such as process diagrams or process documents that show how requests are dealt with, could you please provide them.

Although I am making this request to the NZSIS via the FYI website, I understand that the NZSIS shares information request processing with the Government Communications Security Bureau. Could you please treat this request as having been made to both departments (or transfer a copy of this request to the GCSB under s 14 of the Act).

Kind regards

Henricus

Kia ora

Thank you for your prompt acknowledgement.

I regret I am unable to provide any of the requested documentation.

I am, however, able to confirm my eligibility under s 12(1)(c) of the Act by sending a letter to your post office box (PO Box 900, Wellington).

The New Zealand Post postmark will confirm that I am in New Zealand and therefore eligible to make the request.

Could you kindly confirm that this is acceptable.

Kind regards

Henricus

Kia ora

Thanks for confirming this.

I will get something in the post early this week. Could you please confirm once you have received it and are able to begin processing my request.

Kind regards

Henricus

Kia ora

A postcard was posted to you confirming my presence in New Zealand on 3 September 2025. Can you please confirm whether you have received it?

Yours faithfully,

Henricus

Good morning

As noted in our previous correspondence, proof of my eligibility was sent on 3 September 2025.

I refer you to s 17 of the Legislation Act 2019, which deems a document sent by post to be received at the time it would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.

The New Zealand Post delivery standard is three working days, which means that you are deemed to have received my proof of eligibility on Monday 8 September 2025. The final day for response under the Official Information Act 1982 was therefore Monday 6 October 2025.

As I have not yet received a response to my request nor have you availed yourself of an extension of time under the Official Information Act, I consider this request is now significantly overdue.

Could you please provide an update on your progress and when you expect to provide a response.

Kind regards

Henricus