24435 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister responsible for the NZSIS

24435 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister responsible for the NZSIS: How many redundancy processes have been initiated, if any, in the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, as at 22 May 2025, since 27 November 2023, and how much was the total cost in New Zealand dollar terms, if any?

Hon Judith Collins: I understand the NZSIS reflects on the structure of its staff and adapts as appropriate. The GCSB and the NZSIS undertook a joint change process last year to ensure financial sustainability in the longer term. This was separate from the efficiency savings sought by Ministers as part of Budget 2024, and decisions took effect from March 2025. A small number of people from across the GCSB and NZSIS were made redundant through this, and some new roles were created. The Intelligence and Security Act 2017 (ISA) and Public Finance Act 1989 (PFA) provide for the GCSB and the NZSIS to publicly provide much less financial information than other government departments, in order to allow the agencies to discharge their responsibilities effectively. In particular, section 45E of the PFA and section 221 of the ISA provide for the protection of detailed financial information from public release, as that information would reveal information regarding the capabilities or activities of the agencies. Consistent with this approach, I consider it is not in the public interest for me to provide financial details regarding the agencies. Further, I consider it is not in the public interest for me to provide detailed information about the security and intelligence agencies’ staffing levels or processes.