Review urges PM be

A major review into spy powers has urged that the prime minister and Cabinet ministers be removed from Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, to improve democratic oversight of the spy agencies.

The recommendation has come from a Governmentappointed review into the Intelligence

Security Act 2017, the law which gives the Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau their intrusive spying powers.

The review has made 52 recommendations, of which three major recommendations include overhauling the Intelligence and Security Committee, removing a distinction between warrants for spying on New Zealanders and non-New Zealanders, and defining ‘‘national security’’ in the law.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins made public the reviewer’s report, titled Taumaru – Protecting Aotearoa New Zealand As a Free, Open and Democratic Society, yesterday afternoon. He said he would be consulting with other political parties and taking advice on how the Government should respond in a ‘‘timely way’’.

‘‘New Zealand and its sovereignty is not immune to security threats. Since 2017 we have experienced two terror attacks, seen the rise of foreign interference, disinformation, and cyber-security threats both domestically and overseas,’’ he said in a statement. ‘‘It’s important we regularly check the tools we have available, and accompanying checks and balances, are appropriate to keep New Zealanders safe.’’

The reviewers, former Supreme Court judge Sir Terence Arnold and lawyer Matanuku Mahuika, said the Intelligence and Security Committee, which meets infrequently to provide