Government rejects link to citizenship

Newlydisclosed links between Palantir Technologies’ Peter Thiel (left) and New Zealand intelligence agencies played no part in him being awarded citizenship, the Government says.

Official Information Act inquiries of the three agencies understood to use Palantir software — the New Zealand Defence Force, the Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau — brought denials any of their senior management team had met Mr Thiel over the past eight years.

All three agencies also said they made no submission, formal or informal, over the Thiel application, although the SIS noted it undertook routine screening of all applicants in accordance with the Citizenship Act.

The lightly redacted 145page citizenship file released by Internal Affairs last month contained only one reference to Palantir — a passing mention in a media profile of Mr Thiel submitted by his lawyers.

Officials recommended then minister Nathan Guy approve the application, despite Mr Thiel neither living in New Zealand nor intending to do so, arguing his entrepreneurial skill and philanthropic deeds meant his case was exceptional.

Mr Guy, who said after news broke of Thiel’s citizenship ‘‘I don’t recall this specific application’’, refused an interview this week about the case.

A spokesman for Mr Guy said the minister had since reviewed the application file and now said he was unaware of links between Palantir and New Zealand intelligence agencies at the time he approved the application.