Intelligence agency closer

A super security agency recommended four years ago and said to be ‘‘not too far away’’ last August, is under ‘‘active consideration’’ by Cabinet.

The Federation of Islamic Associations (FIANZ) is calling for a government white paper by March.

The number two recommendation of the 2020 Royal Commission of Inquiry into the 2019 mosque attacks was to set up a national intelligence and security agency, or Nisa, as a way to cut through the confusion and inaction exhibited between the layers of government agencies prior to the terror attacks. Muslim groups say they would have more trust in the system and everyone would be safer if such an independent, overarching body existed.

However, in a new report submitted to the government, FIANZ, far from being impatient, advised caution. ‘‘Given the complexity and the changing global politics and ecoclimate context, there needs to be a serious rethink on the form and function of the proposed but absolutely necessary Nisa,’’ it said in the 40page report.

Nisa is integral to six of the royal commission’s first 10 recommendations, as a pivot around which the ‘‘threat horizon’’ would be scanned, obligations forced home on other agencies, and research done, such as into white supremacists’ groups largely ignored by the country’s spy and law enforcement agencies prior to the March 15, 2019 attacks.

It would be over and above the SIS and GCSB, taking a higherlevel view.

The Minister responsible for the Royal Commission, the GCSB and SIS, Judith Collins, said the ‘‘recommendation is currently under active consideration and is going through the Cabinet process’’.