- Posted March 21, 2024
- Media Releases
The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) accepts the recommendations of the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) report into the GCSB’s previous hosting of a foreign capability.
While the report notes that at the time the GCSB undertook a reasonably robust investigation into the capability and the potential issues with hosting it, the GCSB accepts there were some failings in the decision making processes that followed, particularly not informing the Minister responsible of the day, and the subsequent management of its operation.
The GCSB was first identified in 2009 as a potential site to host the capability, the details of which remain classified. It operated from 2013 until 2020 when the GCSB self-reported the capability to the IGIS.
The capability began operating prior to the significant change and modernisation programme that the GCSB has undertaken in recent years. This was in response to the well documented matters the GCSB was experiencing at that time, such as the compliance issues highlighted in the 2013 Kitteridge report and several changes in leadership.
As the IGIS report notes, the GCSB’s operations, governance, legal mandate, policies and compliance systems have changed significantly since then. The GCSB has transformed the sophistication of its administrative systems, and today operates under more rigorous statutory requirements, including a new authorisation regime. The GCSB’s audit, compliance, record keeping and legal systems have also been transformed, and the oversight of the office of the IGIS has also developed substantially.
The IGIS report also notes the GCSB (and NZSIS) now operate under a Joint Policy Statement in International Agreements and Arrangements, which sits alongside a Ministerial Policy Statement on Overseas cooperation.
“The GCSB is a very different organisation today,” Director-General Andrew Clark said.
“Since I joined the Bureau in late 2023/five months ago I have looked carefully at how it fulfils its requirements in terms of compliance, relevant legislation, human rights and oversight.
“The GCSB exists to protect and enhance New Zealand’s national security, and our international partnerships play a significant part in how we fulfil our mission. It is important that we have effective processes in place that enable us to do our job in accordance with all our obligations.
We welcome the robust and independent oversight of the Inspector-General and the assurance the office provides in helping maintain public trust and confidence in the work we do, which is often carried out in secret.
“We are continually looking to improve how we work. While this IGIS report examines what could be described as a historical issue, its recommendations will nonetheless help us further refine our current processes that ensure we act with propriety in everything we do.”