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Intelligence and Security Act 2017

Oversight of intelligence and security agencies

156: Purpose of Part

You could also call this:

"What this part of the law is about: keeping intelligence and security agencies in New Zealand honest and fair."

Illustration for Intelligence and Security Act 2017

The purpose of this part of the law is to make sure intelligence and security agencies in New Zealand do the right thing and follow the law. You want to know that these agencies are acting properly and doing their jobs well. To achieve this, the law sets up a way for someone to keep an eye on these agencies.

This someone is called the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, and their job is to check that the agencies are doing things lawfully and properly. They also investigate complaints about the agencies and give advice to the government and a special committee.

The law also has a special committee called the Intelligence and Security Committee that checks what the agencies are doing and how they are spending money, to make sure everything is okay.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6921167.

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Part 6Oversight of intelligence and security agencies

156Purpose of Part

  1. The purpose of this Part is to provide for the independent oversight of intelligence and security agencies to ensure that those agencies act with propriety and operate lawfully and effectively.

  2. To achieve this purpose,—

  3. the office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security is continued, with the Inspector-General having functions, duties, or powers to—
    1. ensure that the intelligence and security agencies conduct their activities lawfully and with propriety; and
      1. ensure that complaints relating to the intelligence and security agencies are independently investigated; and
        1. advise the New Zealand Government and the Intelligence and Security Committee on matters relating to the oversight of the agencies:
        2. the Intelligence and Security Committee is continued to provide parliamentary scrutiny of the policies, administration, and expenditure of the intelligence and security agencies.