About Us

The increased spotlight on intelligence agencies in the past few years has highlighted the constant need for Governments to be supplied with accurate and timely information which enables them to make the best decisions possible. Without an independent and reliable source of intelligence the ability of a Government to engage in effective policy making is curtailed.

At the same time Governments have a duty to ensure that all their official information is protected from disclosure to, or tampering by, inappropriate individuals or organisations, and that critical infrastructure is also appropriately protected.

The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in New Zealand has a dual role in this field. Firstly GCSB is a major contributor of foreign intelligence to the New Zealand Government through its foreign signals intelligence collection; secondly the GCSB is responsible for providing advice and expertise to ensure that the Government's official information is protected.

As an intelligence and security agency the level of information available about the GCSB's role is, by its very nature, restricted. In order to maintain our level of effectiveness we must also retain a certain level of secrecy, especially about our intelligence targets and the details of our capabilities, sources, and methods. However as the public profile of intelligence and security agencies has risen, the availability of information has increased, as has the level of accountability the organisation has to provide.

This website provides information about the GCSB and its complementary dual roles.

Bruce Ferguson
Director