New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

Context

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) gathers intelligence related to New Zealand's security, assesses its significance, and provides the government with timely and accurate intelligence relating to national security. NZSIS also provides security advice to a range of other government agencies, helping them reduce their vulnerability to security threats.

New Zealand Security Intelligence Service E-government Initiatives

• Website
• Business Process Improvement Process project (BPIP)

Summary

Ready Access: NZSIS provides ready access to limited information through its website. Future additions to the website and metadata will make it easier for people to find NZSIS information and find out about the agency's role.

Alignment: Considering the purpose and objectives of NZSIS, alignment with the E-government Strategy is satisfactory. When compared with overseas security agency websites, there may be potential to use the Internet more actively.

Internet and Communications Technology

The Internet is not used extensively to make information available to the public. The present website is limited, compared to some overseas security agency websites.

The NZSIS website is based on an updated version of information contained in a published NZSIS information booklet. The website is conservative in the information it provides, as initial concerns were that it would be a prime target for being hacked. While this has not occurred, an email address briefly advertised on the website was the target of a high number of viruses. Consequently, NZSIS no longer provides email addresses on the website.

NZSIS intends to provide greater access to unclassified information on its site in future. Annual Reports are already available, and the website is increasingly being used for recruitment.

Generally, NZSIS website developments take the lead from appropriate overseas security agency websites, such as MI5, the United Kingdom's Security Service site. NZSIS could make greater use of its site by providing some of the information that MI5 provides, which includes advice on specific current threats, security advice for individuals and businesses, summaries of archived files, online email for people to report potential threats, and extensive online recruitment.

More links to other agency websites should be considered. Links to other sites could augment information on NZSIS's site for the public, such as the Ministry for Foreign Affair and Trade's (MFAT) travel advisories.

NZSIS provides a vetting service for other government agencies. Vetting forms cannot be completed online because of Internet security limitations and the need for online authentication.

Ready Access to Information and Services

Metadata

NZSIS has one agency record in the Metalogue, describing the agency's role and linking people to its website. The agency could create additional metadata records to direct people to particular areas of the site, for example publications.

As NZSIS adds more information to its website, additional metadata records should also be created and maintained.

Website Assessment

Websites assessed during June 2004 included: www.nzsis.govt.nz

Overall, there is room for improvement to the NZSIS website. Improvements could be made in the areas of usability, required government content and information delivery. The site has a high level of accessibility.

Some of the information and services the NZSIS is required to provide can be readily accessed on its website. Additional information on topics such as security intelligence advice, foreign intelligence advice and protective security advice would improve the site.

Key quality issues noted during the assessment included:

• Usability and site navigation could be improved for easier use.
• There is no site search function on the site.
• Missing website policies mean people are unsure about feedback, privacy, copyright and complaints.
• Required email addresses are not available or were not answered during the assessment.
• Links to the home page are not found on every page, making site navigation difficult.
• Contact details could be more specific, to enable responsive handling of enquiries.
• More links to other related content would be useful.

Alignment With E-government Goals

Convenience and Satisfaction

The website is useful in providing general NZSIS information for the public.

Integration and Efficiency

Information sharing between NZSIS and other government agencies is not automated as information requirements are usually about specific events or cases. NZSIS considers that because of the content, advisory nature and purpose of its work, this information cannot be conveyed effectively using the Internet.

Website information could be better linked or more integrated with information from other government agencies, especially the New Zealand security agencies, such as MFAT and the Police. Because these websites are not clearly linked, the relationships between these agencies are unclear.

Participation

The Internet is not used to specifically encourage participation in government. There are ways that the Internet can be used to encourage participation, as demonstrated on the M15 website, although these may not be appropriate for New Zealand.