The National Assessments Bureau (NAB), previously known as the External Assessments Bureau (EAB), is a New Zealand
intelligence analysis
Intelligence analysis is the application of individual and collective cognitive methods to weigh data and test hypotheses within a secret socio-cultural context. The descriptions are drawn from what may only be available in the form of deliberate ...
agency within the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).
The NAB along with the
Government Communications Security Bureau
The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) ( mi, Te Tira Tiaki) is the public-service department of New Zealand charged with promoting New Zealand's national security by collecting and analysing information of an intelligence nature. ...
and the
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS or SIS; mi, Te Pā Whakamarumaru) is New Zealand's primary national intelligence agency. It is responsible for providing information and advising on matters including national security (incl ...
is one of the three core members of
New Zealand's intelligence community.
It provides assessments to the
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
, other
Ministers
Minister may refer to:
* Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric
** Minister (Catholic Church)
* Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department)
** Minister without portfolio, a member of governme ...
, senior officials and
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
's
diplomatic missions
A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase usually deno ...
abroad, on events and developments that bear on
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
's interests, especially in regard to matters of
national security
National security, or national defence, is the security and defence of a sovereign state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government. Originally conceived as protection against military atta ...
.
Functions and structure
The NAB is responsible for collecting and analysing information on external matters which may affect New Zealand, including foreign states, individuals, and events. It draws its information from a range of public and confidential sources including the
Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS),
Government Communications Security Bureau
The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) ( mi, Te Tira Tiaki) is the public-service department of New Zealand charged with promoting New Zealand's national security by collecting and analysing information of an intelligence nature. ...
(GCSB),
New Zealand diplomatic posts, academic discourse, the media, and other
publicly available sources. The NAB itself does not undertake intelligence-gathering operations. Its role is to interpret and process information from other sources, producing reports which may be used as a basis for decision-making in other branches of government.
Unlike the SIS and GCSB, the NAB is not subject to the oversight of the Intelligence and Security Committee or the jurisdiction of the
Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.
[Section 2(1), Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1996.] The NAB is part of the Security and Intelligence Group within the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The current Director of the National Assessments Bureau is Cecile Hillyer. The NAB has thirty staff, with most being assessment analysts specializing on regional or topical issues. The Director of the NAB also chairs the National Intelligence Coordination Committee, which coordinates the efforts of the
New Zealand intelligence community.
Together with the NZSIS and GCSB, the NAB forms one of the three core members of
New Zealand's intelligence community.
History
The National Assessments Bureau's origins can be traced back to the Joint Intelligence Office (JIO), which was established in 1949. In 1953, it was renamed the Joint Intelligence Bureau (JIB). In 1975, the JIB was renamed the External Intelligence Bureau (EIB). In 1988, the EIB was renamed the External Assessments Bureau (EAB). By 1990, the EAB had been incorporated into the
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). In March 2010 the EAB was renamed the National Assessments Bureau (NAB) and given a domestic security focus as well.
[
]
See also
* Office of National Assessments
The Office of National Assessments (ONA) was an Australian statutory intelligence agency established by the ''Office of National Assessments Act 1977'' as an independent statutory body directly accountable to the Prime Minister of Australia as ...
(Australia)
References
Further reading
*
External links
National Assessments Bureau
National Assessments Bureau, New Zealand Intelligence Committee
{{National intelligence agencies
New Zealand intelligence agencies
Intelligence analysis agencies