In the red corner

New Zealand is not immune to threats to our national security, including the threat of foreign interference. Foreign interference in our democracy, including espionage, is unacceptable, and if states engage in it, they can expect to be called out on it.

The Government has focused on increasing New Zealanders access to information about the range of threats we face, as well as the work of our security and intelligence services. This is so that everyone can help to safeguard our national security.

There is already good reporting to Parliament and the public about these issues.

This is a reflection of this Government’s commitment to being as upfront as we can about the national security challenges we face, which is in keeping with the recommendations of the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques.

Our intelligence and security agencies are accountable to the intelligence and security select committee. This is a special parliamentary committee that is made up of the prime minister and the leader of the Opposition, as well as members who are elected by the whole House – these currently being Andrew Little, Nicola Willis, James Shaw and Gerry Brownlee.

Twice annually, the committee holds a public session, which is widely reported in the media – in fact the recent reporting is largely based on comments made by the acting director-general of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS) at the public session in March.

Additionally, both the SIS and the Government Communications Security Bureau release public annual reports.

Furthermore, we have an independent Inspector-General of Intelligence.

The inspectorgeneral is able to publish reports on his own accord about anything he thinks the public needs to know about the work of our security and intelligence agencies.

Clearly, there is a need for vigilance in this area.

However, this has always been, and will remain, an area of focus for our security and intelligence services.