Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Intelligence and Security Act 2017

Covert activities of intelligence and security agencies - Assumed identities

23: Assumed identity may be acquired, used, and maintained

You could also call this:

"Spies can use a fake name and identity for work if their boss approves it."

Illustration for Intelligence and Security Act 2017

If you work for an intelligence and security agency, you can get, use, and keep a fake identity if your boss says it's okay. Your boss can only say it's okay if they think you need the fake identity for a reason listed in section 21. You can use this fake identity for your work.

If you need documents to support your fake identity, you can make fake ones if your boss agrees. Your boss can only agree if they think the fake documents are necessary for a reason listed in section 21, and if the documents are not the kind usually given out by the government. You can find out what an employee is by looking at section 4.

More than one person can use the same fake identity if they are all allowed to do so.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6920969.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safetyGovernment and voting > Government departments
Previous

22: Interpretation, or

"What special words mean in this law"

Next

24: Use of assumed identity, or

"Using a fake identity for spy work"

Part 3Covert activities of intelligence and security agencies
Assumed identities

23Assumed identity may be acquired, used, and maintained

  1. An employee of an intelligence and security agency may do 1 or more of the following if the employee is authorised to do so by the Director-General of the intelligence and security agency:

  2. acquire an assumed identity:
    1. use an assumed identity:
      1. maintain an assumed identity.

        1. The Director-General may authorise the acquiring, use, or maintenance of an assumed identity only if he or she is satisfied that the acquiring, use, or maintenance of the assumed identity is necessary for a purpose specified in section 21.

        2. An employee (as defined in section 4) may make a false document for use in supporting the use or maintenance of an assumed identity if the Director-General is satisfied that—

        3. the making and use of the false document are necessary for a purpose specified in section 21; and
          1. the document is of a kind that is not ordinarily issued or given by a Minister or government agency.

            1. Nothing in this subpart prevents 2 or more authorised persons from acquiring, using, or maintaining the same assumed identity.