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Inspector-General of Defence Act 2023

Preliminary provisions

3: Purpose

You could also call this:

"This law helps keep the New Zealand Defence Force in check."

Illustration for Inspector-General of Defence Act 2023

The purpose of this Act is to help you understand how the New Zealand Defence Force is overseen. You will have someone to check that the Defence Force is doing the right thing. This person will make sure the Minister is informed and the public is assured that the Defence Force is following the rules. This Act creates special roles to help with this oversight. You will have an Inspector-General of Defence and a Deputy Inspector-General of Defence. These roles will have specific jobs to do, which will be explained in the Act. The Act is in place to support the Minister and to make sure the Defence Force is transparent. You can be assured that the Defence Force's activities will be checked to ensure they are complying with international law. This will help you understand how the Defence Force is being held accountable for their actions.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS717597.

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"When the Inspector-General of Defence Act 2023 starts"

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"What special words in the Act mean"

Part 1Preliminary provisions

3Purpose

  1. The purpose of this Act is to—

  2. provide the Minister with dedicated independent oversight of the New Zealand Defence Force; and
    1. support the Minister in their responsibility to the House of Representatives for the activities of the Defence Force; and
      1. assure the public that the activities of the Defence Force are subject to independent scrutiny, including in relation to the Defence Force’s compliance with New Zealand’s obligations under international law.

        1. To fulfil that purpose, this Act—

        2. creates the offices of Inspector-General of Defence and Deputy Inspector-General of Defence; and
          1. confers functions on those offices and makes other provision in relation to them.