This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

The purpose of this Act is to—

• (a) continue the Government Communications Security Bureau and establish it as a department of State:

• (b) specify the objective and functions of the Bureau:

• (c) specify the circumstances in which the Bureau requires an interception warrant or a computer access authorisation to intercept foreign communications:

• (d) specify the conditions that are necessary for the issue of an interception warrant or a computer access authorisation and the matters that may be authorised by a warrant or an authorisation:

• (e) specify the circumstances in which the Bureau may use interception devices to intercept foreign communications without a warrant or an authorisation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

This Act binds the Crown.

(1) There continues to be an instrument of the Executive Government of New Zealand known as the Government Communications Security Bureau.

(2) On and from the commencement of this Act, the Bureau is a department of State.

(1) The objective of the Bureau is to contribute to the national security of New Zealand by providing—

• (a) foreign intelligence that the Government of New Zealand requires to protect and advance—

  • (i) the security or defence of New Zealand; or

  • (ii) the international relations of the Government of New Zealand; or

  • (iii) New Zealand’s international well-being or economic well-being; and

• (b) foreign intelligence to meet international obligations and commitments of the Government of New Zealand; and

• (c) advice, assistance, and protection to departments of State and other instruments of the Executive Government of New Zealand in order to—

  • (i) protect and enhance the security of their communications, information systems, and computer systems; or

  • (ii) protect their environments from electronic or other forms of technical surveillance by foreign organisations or foreign persons.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a)(iii), the interests of New Zealand’s international well-being or economic well-being are relevant only to the extent that they are affected by the actions or intentions of foreign organisations or foreign persons.

(1) The Bureau has the following functions:

• (a) to gather foreign intelligence, in accordance with the foreign intelligence requirements of the Government of New Zealand,—

  • (i) by intercepting communications under the authority of this Act; or

  • (ii) by co-operating with public authorities or other entities in New Zealand and abroad; or

  • (iii) by collecting information in any other lawful manner:

• (b) to decipher, decode, and translate foreign communications:

• (c) to examine and analyse foreign communications and foreign intelligence:

• (d) to provide reports on foreign intelligence to the Minister and any person or office holder, whether in New Zealand or abroad, authorised by the Minister:

• (e) to co-operate with, or to provide advice and assistance to, any public authority or other entity, in New Zealand or abroad,—

  • (i) on the protection of information that the public authority or other entity produces, sends, receives, or holds in any medium; or

  • (ii) on any matter that is relevant—

    • (A) to the functions of the public authority or other entity; and

    • (B) to any purpose specified in subsection (2).

(2) The Bureau may perform its functions only for the following purposes:

• (a) to pursue its objective:

• (b) to protect the safety of any person:

• (c) in support of the prevention or detection of serious crime.

(3) The performance of the Bureau’s functions is subject to the control of the Minister.

(1) The Director of the Bureau is appointed by the Governor-General.

(2) The remuneration of the Director is determined by the Higher Salaries Commission under the Higher Salaries Commission Act 1977.

(3) The Director holds office during the pleasure of the Governor-General and is subject to any conditions (other than remuneration) determined by the Minister.

(4) Despite subsection (3), the person who, at the commencement of this Act, holds office as Director—

• (a) continues to hold that office in accordance with the person’s contract of employment; and

• (b) until a determination of the kind referred to in subsection (2) is made in respect of the person, continues to be remunerated in accordance with that contract; and

• (c) is eligible to be reappointed as Director.

(1) When there is a vacancy in the position of Director or when the Director is (for whatever reason) absent from duty, the functions, duties, and powers of the Director must be exercised or performed by a person whom the Minister directs to exercise or perform those functions, duties, and powers.

(2) The Minister may give a direction before the occurrence of any vacancy or absence referred to in subsection (1) or while the vacancy or absence continues.

(3) No direction and no act done by a person acting under a direction given under this section may, in a proceeding, be questioned on the ground that the occasion for the direction had not arisen or had ceased, or on the ground that the person had not been appointed to a position to which the direction relates.

(1) A person who is or was an employee of the Bureau may not disclose or use any information gained by or conveyed to the person through the person’s connection with the Bureau except in the strict course of the person’s official duties or as authorised by the Minister.

(2) Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine not exceeding $2,000 who contravenes subsection (1).

(1) As soon as practicable after each year ending on 30 June, the Director must deliver to the Minister a report on the activities of the Bureau during that year as if it were an annual report under the Public Finance Act 1989.

(2) When the Minister receives a copy of a report under subsection (1), the Minister must, without delay, submit a copy of the report to the members of the Intelligence and Security Committee established under the Intelligence and Security Committee Act 1996.

(3) Within 30 sitting days after receiving the report under subsection (1), the Minister must present to the House of Representatives a copy of the report that accords with any directions given under subsection (4), and includes—

• (a) [Repealed]

• (b) a statement as to whether or not any interception warrants were in force during the year to which the report relates; and

• (c) a statement as to whether or not any computer access authorisations were in force during the year to which the report relates; and

• (d) a statement setting out—

  • (i) a summary of the Bureau’s equal employment opportunities programme for the year to which the report relates; and

  • (ii) an account of the extent to which the Bureau was able to meet, during the year to which the report relates, the equal employment opportunities programme for that year.

(4) Before presenting a copy of the report to the House of Representatives under subsection (3), the Minister may direct that any material (other than the material referred to in section 45E(1)(c)(i) of the Public Finance Act 1989 and subsection (3)(b) to (d)) be deleted from the report if the Minister considers that the material is likely—

• (a) to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the Government of New Zealand; or

• (b) to prejudice the entrusting of information to the Government of New Zealand on a basis of confidence by the Government of any other country or any agency of such a Government; or

• (c) to prejudice the entrusting of information to the Government of New Zealand on a basis of confidence by any international organisation; or

• (d) to endanger the safety of any person; or

• (e) to prejudice unreasonably the privacy of an individual.

The purpose of this Part is,—

• (a) subject to the restrictions imposed by this Part, to enable the Bureau to obtain foreign intelligence; and

• (b) to authorise the interception of communications (whether under section 16 or under an interception warrant or a computer access authorisation) only if the purpose of the interception is to obtain foreign intelligence.

Neither the Director, nor an employee of the Bureau, nor a person acting on behalf of the Bureau may authorise or take any action for the purpose of intercepting the communications of a person (not being a foreign organisation or a foreign person) who is a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident.

(1) Unless authorised by an interception warrant to do so, neither the Director, nor an employee of the Bureau, nor a person acting on behalf of the Bureau may—

• (a) physically connect an interception device to any part of a network; or

• (b) install an interception device in a place for the purpose of intercepting communications that occur in the place.

(2) Unless authorised by section 16 or by a computer access authorisation to do so, neither the Director, nor an employee of the Bureau, nor a person acting on behalf of the Bureau may access a computer system that the person concerned is not otherwise authorised to access.

(1) The Director, or an employee of the Bureau, or a person acting on behalf of the Bureau may, without an interception warrant, or, as the case requires, without a computer access authorisation, intercept foreign communications only if the interception is authorised by this Act or by another enactment.

(2) The Director, or an employee of the Bureau, or a person acting on behalf of the Bureau may, without an interception warrant, or, as the case requires, without a computer access authorisation, intercept foreign communications by using an interception device, but only if—

• (a) the interception does not involve any activity specified in section 15(1); and

• (b) any access to a computer system is limited to access to 1 or more communication links between computers or to remote terminals; and

• (c) the interception is carried out by the Director or with the authority of the Director for the purpose of obtaining foreign intelligence; and

• (d) the foreign communications do not contain private communications other than private communications that—

  • (i) are produced, sent, or received by, or sent to, a foreign organisation or a foreign person; and

  • (ii) contain, or may reasonably be expected to contain, foreign intelligence.

(3) This section is subject to section 14.

(1) The Director may apply in writing to the Minister for the issue of an interception warrant authorising the use of interception devices to intercept communications not otherwise lawfully obtainable by the Bureau.

(2) If satisfied on evidence given on oath by the Director that the conditions specified in subsection (3) apply to the proposed warrant, the Minister may issue the warrant to authorise the interception of either or both of the following kinds of communication:

• (a) foreign communications made or received by 1 or more persons specified in the warrant or made or received in 1 or more places specified in the warrant:

• (b) foreign communications that are sent from, or are being sent to, an overseas country.

(3) The conditions referred to in subsection (2) are that—

• (a) the interception to be authorised by the proposed warrant is essential for the protection or advancement of 1 or more of the interests specified in section 7(1)(a); and

• (b) the value of the information sought to be obtained under the proposed warrant justifies the particular interception; and

• (c) the information is not likely to be obtained by other means; and

• (d) if the communications to be intercepted are of the kind specified in subsection (2)(a), that there are reasonable grounds for believing—

  • (i) that any person specified in the proposed warrant as a person whose communications may be intercepted is a foreign person or a foreign organisation; and

  • (ii) that any place to be specified in the proposed warrant is occupied by a foreign organisation or a foreign person.

(4) Before issuing a warrant, the Minister must consult the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the proposed warrant.

(5) The Minister may issue a warrant subject to any conditions that the Minister considers advisable in the public interest.

(6) This section is subject to section 14.

(1) Every interception warrant must specify the person or class of person who may make the interception authorised by the warrant.

(2) A warrant may also request 1 or more persons or class of persons to give any assistance that is reasonably necessary to give effect to the warrant.

(3) If a request is made, under subsection (2), to 1 or more persons or class of persons who are employees (the employees), the warrant must also request the persons who are the employers of the employees, or any other persons in any way in control of the employees, to make the services of the employees available to the Bureau.

(4) On an application made in writing by the Director, the Minister may amend a warrant—

• (a) by substituting another person for the person specified in the warrant under subsection (1):

• (b) by substituting another person or another class of persons for a person or class of persons requested under subsection (2):

• (c) by adding any person or class of persons to the persons requested under subsection (2).

(1) The Minister may, on the written application of the Director, authorise the Director or a specified employee, or a specified class of employees, of the Bureau to access a computer system of a specified foreign organisation or foreign person.

(2) Before the Minister grants an authorisation, he or she must be satisfied on evidence given on oath by the Director that—

• (a) the access to be authorised is essential for the protection or advancement of 1 or more of the interests specified in section 7(1)(a); and

• (b) that the persons whose computer system is to be accessed are foreign persons or foreign organisations; and

• (c) the value of the information sought to be obtained under the authorisation justifies the access; and

• (d) the information is not likely to be obtained by other means.

(3) Every authorisation must be in writing.

(4) Before issuing an authorisation, the Minister must consult the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the proposed authorisation.

(5) The Minister may issue an authorisation subject to any conditions that the Minister considers advisable in the public interest.

Despite section 41 of the State Sector Act 1988, the Director may not delegate to any person the Director’s functions under section 17 or section 19.

(1) Every person who is authorised to give effect, or to assist in giving effect, to an interception warrant or to a computer access authorisation is justified in taking, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the warrant or authorisation, any reasonable action necessarily involved in giving, or assisting to give, effect to the warrant or authorisation.

(2) In any proceedings, a certificate by the Attorney-General as to any matters specified in a warrant or authorisation is sufficient evidence of those matters and, if such a certificate is produced, it is not necessary to produce the warrant or authorisation to which the certificate relates.

(1) Every interception warrant and every computer access authorisation must specify a period not exceeding 12 months for which the warrant or authorisation is valid.

(2) The expiry of an interception warrant or of an authorisation does not prevent a further application for an interception warrant or an authorisation in respect of the same subject matter.

(1) Every person who intercepts any communication under section 16 or under an interception warrant or a computer access authorisation must, as soon as practicable after the interception, destroy any copy that he or she may make of the communication, or any part of the communication, and any record, whether in writing or otherwise, of the information obtained by that interception, except to the extent that the information recorded in the copy or record relates directly or indirectly to—

• (a) the protection or advancement of 1 or more of the interests specified in section 7(1)(a); or

• (b) any of the Bureau’s functions under section 8.

(2) Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 who knowingly fails to comply with subsection (1).

Every person who, in accordance with section 16 or with an interception warrant or with a computer access authorisation, intercepts or assists in intercepting the communications of 1 or more persons must take all practicable steps that are reasonable in the circumstances to minimise the likelihood of intercepting communications that are not relevant to the persons whose communications are to be intercepted.

Despite section 23, the Director, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime in New Zealand or in any other country, may retain any information that comes into the possession of the Bureau and may communicate that information to employees of the New Zealand Police or to any other persons, and in any manner, that the Director thinks fit.

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

Sections 30, 40, 58(2), and 68 of the State Sector Act 1988 do not apply to the Government Communications Security Bureau.

The Crimes (Exemption of Listening Device) Order 1997 (SR 1997/145) is revoked.