Dear Prime Minister,

As Minister for National Security and Intelligence, I request the following information under the Official Information Act 1982:

1. Any risk assessments, threat analyses, briefings, or advice provided to Ministers or senior officials regarding national security implications of New Zealand's increasing reliance on foreign-controlled satellite communications systems (specifically Starlink/SpaceX operated by Elon Musk) for critical infrastructure, emergency services, or government communications.

2. Any analysis of data sovereignty concerns related to satellite internet providers routing New Zealand internet traffic through foreign jurisdictions, including whether this creates signals intelligence vulnerabilities or compromises New Zealand's Five Eyes obligations.

3. Any correspondence with Five Eyes intelligence partners regarding security assessments of commercial satellite communications providers, or discussions about standardising security requirements for satellite services used by government agencies or critical infrastructure operators.

4. Any advice provided to Ministers on whether New Zealand has contractual guarantees, kill-switch provisions, or service continuity assurances from satellite communications providers during international conflicts, political disputes, or scenarios where the provider's owner is directed by a foreign government to limit or terminate services.

5. Any assessment of whether a single individual having operational control over critical communications infrastructure used by New Zealand emergency services, government agencies, or essential services creates unacceptable national security or resilience risks, particularly where that individual has demonstrated willingness to disable services in geopolitical contexts (for example, limiting Starlink service during the Ukraine conflict or declining to provide service to Taiwan).

6. Any advice on whether current Telecommunications Act settings and the Government's rural connectivity funding programmes adequately address national security considerations when allocating public funds to foreign-controlled satellite providers versus New Zealand-based telecommunications operators.

Yours faithfully,

Sam Brown