Minister for National Security and Intelligence (New Zealand)

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Minister for National Security and Intellegence
Coat of arms of New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand
Incumbent
Christopher Luxon
since 27 November 2023
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
StyleThe Honourable
Member of
Reports toPrime Minister of New Zealand
AppointerGovernor-General of New Zealand
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Formation8 October 2014
First holderJohn Key
Website[1]

The Minister for National Security and Intelligence is a minister in the New Zealand Government who is responsible for leading and setting the policies and legislative framework of New Zealand's national security system. The current minister is Christopher Luxon, who is also the current Prime Minister of New Zealand, as by convention, the National Security and Intelligence portfolio is always held by the Prime Minister.

Role and responsibility

The Minister for National Security and Intelligence is responsible for overseeing policy and legislation relating to New Zealand's national security apparatus. The Minister also chairs the Cabinet National Security Committee and the Parliamentary specialist committee on Intelligence and Security.[1][2][3] The minister does not provide direct oversight to New Zealand's main two intelligence agencies, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), which is instead provided by two separate portfolios, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS and Minister Responsible for the GCSB.[4][5] Administrative support for the portfolio is provided by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Prior to the creation of the National Security and Intelligence portfolio in 2014, the NZSIS and GCSB portfolios were, by convention and without exception, held by the Prime Minister, meaning sole ministerial oversight of New Zealand's intelligence and security agencies and arrangements lay with the Prime Minister.[6] The portfolio was established following the 2014 election by Prime Minister John Key as part of a rearrangement to the way New Zealand's intelligence sector was governed.[1] Since then it has been convention for the Prime Minister to hold the National Security and Intelligence portfolio, while direct ministerial oversight for the NZSIS and GCSB is delegated to another senior minister.

List of ministers for national security and intelligence

Key

  National   Labour

No. Name Portrait Term of office Prime Minister
1 John Key 8 October 2014 12 December 2016 Key
2 Bill English 12 December 2016 26 October 2017 English
3 Jacinda Ardern 26 October 2017 25 January 2023 Ardern
4 Chris Hipkins 25 January 2023 27 November 2023 Hipkins
5 Christopher Luxon 27 November 2023 Incumbent Luxon

Notes

  1. ^ a b "National Security and Intelligence role created". Scoop Media. New Zealand. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Outline of security portfolio responsibilities" (PDF). Scoop Media. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  3. ^ https://dpmc.govt.nz/cabinet/portfolios/national-security-and-intelligence
  4. ^ https://dpmc.govt.nz/cabinet/portfolios/nzsis
  5. ^ https://dpmc.govt.nz/cabinet/portfolios/gcsb
  6. ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 126.

References

  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer.
    OCLC 154283103
    .
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