The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS or SIS) is an intelligence agency of the New Zealand government. An intelligence agency is a governmental organization devoted to gathering of information by means of espionage (spying), communication interception, cryptoanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources. ...

Purpose

The Security Intelligence Service is a civilian organisation, and takes no part in the enforcement of security (although it has limited powers to intercept communications and search residences). Its role is intended to be advisory, providing the government with information on threats to national security or national interests. It also advises other government agencies about their own internal security measures, and is responsible for performing checks on government employees who require security clearance. The SIS is responsible for most of the government's counter-intelligence work. Security measures taken to protect the Houses of Parliament in London, England. ... A security clearance is a status granted individuals, typically members of the military and employees of governments and their contractors, allowing them access to classified information, i. ... Counter Intelligence A uk label started and owned by John Machielsen. ...

The SIS's stated aims are to:

• "Protect and promote New Zealand's defence, foreign policy, and national economic interests."
• "Protect New Zealanders and their property."
• "Detect and prevent serious overseas-based crime which could affect this country."
• "Protect against threats from terrorism and espionage."

According to the United States Department of Defense, terrorism is the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological. ... Espionage is the practice of obtaining secrets (spying) from rivals or enemies for military, political, or economic advantage. ...

Organisation

The SIS is based in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. It also has branches in Auckland and Christchurch. It has between 110 and 140 permanent staff, somewhat less than the Government Communications Security Bureau (New Zealand's other significant intelligence agency). Its budget (around 16 million New Zealand dollars) is also below that of the GCSB. Alternative meanings at Wellington (disambiguation) A view of Wellington from the top of Mount Victoria. ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... For other uses, see Christchurch (disambiguation). ... The Waihopai Valley Government Communications Security Bureau base. ... A New Zealand $100 polymer banknote, replacement of the old paper notes. ...

The SIS has connections with foreign intelligence organisations, particularly in the United Kingdom, and Australia. The SIS's links to foreign intelligence agencies is often controversial in New Zealand.

The SIS is headed by the Director of Security, and is watched over by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and the Intelligence and Security Committee. The SIS itself reports to a Cabinet minister with responsibility for intelligence (traditionally the Prime Minister). The New Zealand Cabinet is, in practice, the highest body of the New Zealand governments executive branch. ... The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealands head of government and is the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand. ...

The SIS was established in 1956. An Act of Parliament covering it, the Security Intelligence Act, was passed in 1969. Various amendments have since been made to the Security Intelligence Act — the most controversial was probably Robert Muldoon's 1977 amendment, which expanded the SIS's powers of monitoring considerably. The 1977 amendment saw sizable protests outside Parliament. 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Westminster System parliaments, an Act of Parliament is a part of the law passed by the Parliament. ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... The Right Honourable Sir Robert David (Rob) Muldoon KCMG CH (25 September 1921–5 August 1992) served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ...

Many claim that extensive political and judicial oversight are necessary to keep agencies on task, and to not waste limited intelligence gathering resources. Also, unlike the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, NZSIS does not make available telephone numbers to allow frontline NZSIS staff to be contacted. Considering that anti-terrorism is part and parcel of NZSIS's charter, this is considered by some to be a significant security gap. However, it should be noted that the New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for terrorism in New Zealand, and they are the most appropriate government agency for the public to contact if they have information regarding terrorism in New Zealand. The New Zealand Police is the national police force that is responsible for enforcing the criminal law and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace in New Zealand. ...

Public profile

The SIS has been involved in a number of public incidents and controversies since its creation in 1956. 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• In 1974, the SIS was the source of information that led to the arrest of Bill Sutch, an economist, on charges of spying for the Soviet Union. Sutch was acquitted, and the SIS was criticised for having accused him in the first place.
• In 1981, the SIS was criticised for drawing up a list of 20 "subversives" who participated in protests against the 1981 Springbok Tour, a visit by South Africa's apartheid rugby team. That singling out of individuals as "subversives" was deemed by many to be a violation of the right to protest government decisions.
• Also in 1981, an SIS operative inadvertently left a briefcase containing sandwiches, Listener magazine and a diary on a journalist's fence in Wellington. The briefcase was commonly but mistakenly described as containing a Penthouse magazine and pie.
• In 1985, the SIS failed to detect the French operation in which DGSE operatives bombed the Greenpeace vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, killing a photographer. This was the most significant case of espionage or terrorism in New Zealand.
• In 1996, Aziz Choudry, an anti-globalization protester, discovered two SIS agents breaking into his home, prompting charges that the SIS had violated his rights. Aziz eventually won his case, being paid damages and receiving an apology.
• In 2002, the SIS reported that Ahmed Zaoui, an Algerian seeking asylum in New Zealand, was a security risk and recommended his deportation. However, this recommendation was challenged. The SIS issued a security risk certificate pursuant to section 114 of the Immigration Act 1987 and Zaoui was detained in a penal institution under a warrant of commitment. The SIS refused to release some highly classified information which it used to determine Zaoui's status as a security risk. Comments made by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, who monitors the SIS, were considered by some to be openly biased against Zaoui. As a result of the resulting controversy, the Inspector General, Laurie Grieg, resigned in March 2004. Former Solicitor General, Paul Neazor, was appointed to replace Grieg. Zaoui's case is ongoing.
• In 2004, allegations surfaced that the SIS was spying on Maori individuals and organisations, including those associated with the new Maori Party, for political purposes under the codename "Operation Leaf." A government inquiry led by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security later rejected these claims in April 2005, however. As a result, the Prime Minister, Helen Clark said the allegations were a hoax and asked the Sunday Star Times newspaper that printed them to apologise to their readers, for which they later did.

1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1981 Springbok Tour was a controversial tour of New Zealand by the South African Springbok rugby team. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Rugby football, as a catch-all term, may refer to two related but separate team sports: rugby league and rugby union. ... Former parliament buildings on the left and part of the current complex, The Beehive, on the right Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara or Poneke) is the capital city of New Zealand and the countrys second-largest urban area. ... Jesse Capelli on Penthouse magazine cover Penthouse is a mens magazine founded by Bob Guccione, combining urban lifestyle articles and soft-core pornographic pictorials, that eventually, in the 1990s evolved into hard-core. ... A slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie à la mode A pie is a baked dish, with a baked shell usually made of pastry that covers or completely contains a filling of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, cheeses, creams, chocolate, custards, nuts, or other sweet or savoury ingredient. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (generally known as DGSE) is Frances external intelligence agency. ... The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, codenamed Operation SATANIC, was a special operation by the action branch of the French foreign intelligence services, the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE), carried out on July 10, 1985. ... Greenpeace protest in Brasília, Brazil. ... The second Rainbow Warrior Rainbow Warrior is the name of a series of ships operated by Greenpeace. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 2002(MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ahmed Zaoui is an Algerian refugee who sought residency in New Zealand in 2002. ... Power lines leading to a trash dump hover just overhead in El Carpio, a Nicaraguan refugee camp in Costa Rica A refugee is a person seeking asylum in a foreign country in order to escape persecution. ... 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Deaths • 08 Abu Abbas • 20 Queen Juliana • 28 Peter Ustinov • 30 Alistair Cooke More March 2004 deaths Ongoing events EU Enlargement Exploration of Mars: Rovers Haiti Rebellion Israeli-Palestinian conflict Occupation of Iraq Same-sex marriage in... 2004(MMIV) is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Te Puni, Māori Chief Māori is the name of the indigenous people of New Zealand, and their language. ... The Maori Party, a political party in New Zealand based around Maori citizens, formed around Tariana Turia, a former Labour Party member who had been a New Zealand Cabinet minister in the current Labour-dominated coalition government. ... April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A prime minister may be either: the chief or leading member of the cabinet of the top-level government in a country having a parliamentary system of government; or the official, in countries with a semi-presidential system of government, appointed to manage the civil service and execute the directives... The Right Honourable Helen Elizabeth Clark (born February 26, 1950) has served as Prime Minister of New Zealand since December 1999. ...

External links

• New Zealand Security Intelligence Service website