Declassification program
Scott made this Official Information request to New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Scott to read a recent response and update the status.
From: Scott
Dear New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,
I would like to request copies of the following documents:
ONE: The NZSIS Declassification Policy
TWO: The NZSIS Declassification Criteria
THREE: The NZSIS Declassification Governance Framework
FOUR: For the 18-month proof of concept declassifcation pilot that ended June 2023, I would like to request whatever report was produced as an outcome of this pilot
FIVE: The Business Case for the NZSIS Declassification Program that began June 2023
SIX: The sections of the Capability Directorate Annual Business Plans for 2023 and 2024 that deal with the Declassification Program (which I understand falls within this directorate)
SEVEN: For the PSR Self-Assessment Reports completed by NZSIS in 2023 and in 2024, the answers supplied by NZSIS for the questions related to the 2022 NZ Classifcation System Policy update (including any written responses and documents included as attachments in answers to these questions)
EIGHT: The membership list (name, agency/organisation and job title) and terms of reference for the Declassification Panel, and any reports and minutes produced by this group
In terms of Section 16(2) of the OIA my preference is to receive copies of these documents, rather than an excerpt or summary.
Yours faithfully,
Scott
From: OIA Privacy
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
Tēnā koe,
Thank you for your Official Information Act request.
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than 20 working days after the day that your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact [NZSIS request email].
Ngā mihi,
NZSIS
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From: OIA Privacy
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
Tēnā koe Scott,
We refer to your OIA request of 16 May 2024 outlined below.
The OIA requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20 working days after the day that we received your request. Unfortunately, it will not be possible for us to meet that time limit on this occasion, as the consultations necessary for us to complete making a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. We are therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time limit under section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA, to 12 July 2024.
Despite this extension, we will provide you with our response as soon as practicable.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman regarding our decision to extend the time limit. Information about how to make a complaint is available at http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/ or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
NZSIS
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From: OIA Privacy
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
Tēnā koe Scott,
We are writing to advise that a decision has been made on your request.
We confirm we hold information that falls within the scope of your request and where possible it will be released to you. Some information will, however, need to be withheld under the following provisions of the Official Information Act:
Section 6(a), where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the Government of New Zealand;
Section 6(b)(i), where the making available of the information would be likely 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;
Section 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons;
Section 9(2)(h), to maintain legal professional privilege;
Section 18(d), the information requested is or will soon be publicly available.
We will provide the information to you as soon as possible.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/ or freephone 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
NZSIS
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From: Scott
Dear NZSIS,
I am messaging to ask for an update on this request.
Are you able to let me know when I can expect to receive your response?
Yours sincerely,
Scott
From: OIA Privacy
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
Tēnā koe Scott,
Thank you for your patience. We will have our response to you as soon as possible within the next few days.
Ngā mihi
NZSIS
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From: OIA Privacy
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
Kia ora Scott
The response to your OIA response is attached.
Ngā mihi
NZSIS
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Oliver Lineham (FYI.org.nz volunteer) left an annotation ()
Kia ora Scott,
It looks like NZSIS is continuing to delay, possibly unlawfully, by refusing release under 18(d) (that the information will "soon" be publicly available). To minimise further delay, I recommend pointing them to the recent Ombudsman decision in case note 010195 (https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/reso...) and point out that:
1) To refuse under 18(d), there must be a clear release date. If there is a clear release date they must be able to tell you it. Ask what the release date is.
2) To refuse 18(d), all the information must be released in full. There can be no further redactions in the eventual public release.
Oliver
From: OIA Privacy
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
Hello Scott
Further to the Director-General’s response to your OIA request for
information about the NZSIS’s declassification programme, the information
that was soon to be made publicly available has been published to our
website here: [1]Declassified historical records | New Zealand Security
Intelligence Service (nzsis.govt.nz)
Regards
NZSIS
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References
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1. https://www.nzsis.govt.nz/information-re...
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Oliver Lineham (FYI.org.nz volunteer) left an annotation ()
Kia ora Scott,
Regardless of if/when they release the information, I recommend making a complaint to the Ombudsman about undue delay.
They extended the time limit for a decision to 12 July, and then claimed on that date that they had made a decision. That timing is surprising on its own. Then taking over a month to prepare the information for release is suspicious and suggests they may not have actually made the decisions of precisely what to release or withhold back in July afterall. An Ombudsman investigation would help find out what they've really been doing for three months.
Link to this