29 January 2026
Ref: OIA-2025/26-0403
Sebastian
[FYI request #33297 email]
Tēnā koe Sebastian
Official Information Act request relating to documents regarding terrorism and violent
extremism
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, which was received by the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) on 16 December 2025. You
requested:
In light of the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, I am
requesting information about the New Zealand government's counterterrorism work
programme, particularly after the 2019 Christchurch attacks and the subsequent royal
commission of inquiry into those attacks. I will direct other queries to the NZSIS, who
can respond for the Combined Threat Assessment Group.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry identified in its 2020 report:
- An "absence of strategic analysis ... across the counter-terrorism effort".
- "Between 2010 and 2018 the National Assessments Bureau published just under 400
formal assessments on terrorism and/or violent extremism."
- "[The Royal Commission team] were told that the National Assessments Bureau
focused more on the international terrorism environment and less on the domestic
terrorism environment because that was the agreed division of effort with the
Combined Threat Assessment Group."
- "The National Assessments Bureau saw terrorism as primarily the responsibility of the
Combined Threat Assessment Group. [NAB's] focus was largely international and
customer directed. ... The lack of a coordinated national assessments programme
meant that the gaps in strategic assessment were less likely to be identified and
addressed."
- "Strategic assessments enable the counter-terrorism effort to scan the horizon to look
for new and emerging threats. They lift the focus from today’s presenting threat and
remind operational agencies of the need to anticipate future threats. It is an important
tool for the effective allocation of resources, particularly where capacity or capability
are limited. In New Zealand the Combined Threat Assessment Group and the National
Assessments Bureau are the two agencies with responsibility for strategic
assessments that support the counter-terrorism effort."
My questions are as follows:
1. How many solely-authored or jointly-authored assessments that are primarily
focused on the subjects of terrorism and/or violent extremism has the National
Assessments Bureau produced in 2025? Please separate the answer into solely-
authored and joint-authored tallies.
2. What are the titles of each of those assessments?
3. Given that the National Assessments Bureau published nearly 400 formal
assessments on terrorism and/or violent extremism between 2010 and 2018 (a
5134067
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
period with particularly low staffing numbers, according to the Inquiry), how many
formal assessments on the same topics were published between 2021 and 2025
(inclusive of those years), the period since the Inquiry was published?
4. What, if anything, has been agreed between the National Assessments Bureau and
the Combined Threat Assessment Group about the division of effort of terrorism
and/or violent extremism topics between the two assessment agencies since the
Royal Commission of Inquiry was published?”
The responses to your questions are below.
In relation to questions [1] and [2], the National Assessments Bureau (NAB) provides
independent and impartial assessments of events and developments relevant to
New Zealand’s national security and international relations. In 2025 NAB published four
assessments that were primarily focussed on the subjects of terrorism and/or violent
extremism.
Due to the sensitive nature of these assessments, and of NAB’s work programme more
broadly, I have decided to withhold the titles of these assessments and whether these were
jointly or solely-authored under section 6(a) of the Act, to protect the security or defence of
New Zealand and/or the international relations of the Government of New Zealand.
In relation to question [3], in the years 2021 to 2025 (inclusive) NAB published 119 reports
that covered terrorism and/or violent extremism.
In relation to question [4], there is no written delineation of effort between the Combined
Threat Assessment Group (CTAG) and NAB on the coverage of terrorism and violent
extremism. Both organisations (reflecting their complementary mandates) have taken steps
to strengthen the relationship and ability to support the national security system including
through:
• the secondment of an NAB analyst into CTAG
• co-written pieces of work drawing on the areas of expertise that organisation
maintains, and
• support to each other (and the broader system) during periods of crisis and instability.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
This response wil be published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s
website during our regular publication cycle. Typically, information is released monthly, or as
otherwise determined. Your personal information including name and contact details will be
removed for publication.
Nāku noa, nā
Jeremy Clarke-Watson
Deputy Chief Executive
National Security and Resilience
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