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Intelligence and Security Act 2017

Oversight of intelligence and security agencies - Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security - Procedure on completion of inquiry

188: Publication of Inspector-General’s report

You could also call this:

"Inspector-General's reports are made public on their website, with secret information removed to keep people safe."

Illustration for Intelligence and Security Act 2017

When the Inspector-General sends a report as required by section 185(3), they must make it available to the public on their website as soon as possible. You can access this report on the Inspector-General's website. The Inspector-General must remove certain information from the report before making it public.

The Inspector-General cannot disclose information that would put someone's safety at risk if it is made public. They also cannot disclose information that would stop other countries or organisations from sharing confidential information with the New Zealand Government.

The Inspector-General must keep secret the identities of people who work for intelligence and security agencies, except for the Director-General. They also cannot disclose information that would harm New Zealand's security or defence, or its relationships with other countries.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6921209.

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"The Minister must answer the Inspector-General's report as soon as possible."

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"Giving back documents after an inquiry is finished"

Part 6Oversight of intelligence and security agencies
Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security: Procedure on completion of inquiry

188Publication of Inspector-General’s report

  1. As soon as practicable after sending a report in accordance with section 185(3), the Inspector-General must make the report publicly available on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Inspector-General.

  2. However, the Inspector-General must not, in the report made publicly available under subsection (1), disclose—

  3. information that, if publicly disclosed, would be likely to prejudice the entrusting of information to the Government of New Zealand on a basis of confidence—
    1. by the Government of any other country or any agency of such a Government; or
      1. by an international organisation; or
      2. information that, if publicly disclosed, would be likely to endanger the safety of any person; or
        1. the identity of any person who is or has been an officer, employee, or agent of an intelligence and security agency other than the Director-General, or any information from which the identity of such a person could reasonably be inferred; or
          1. information that, if publicly disclosed, would be likely to prejudice—
            1. the continued performance of the functions of an intelligence and security agency; or
              1. the security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the Government of New Zealand; or
              2. any information about employment matters or security clearance issues.

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