OPINION
Together Stronger: A New Zealand security sector network? Chief editor Nicholas Dynon writes that a more ‘networked’ approach between the security sector’s industry, professional and academic organisations could give the sector a more powerful voice. On 20 June, 25 representatives from New Zealand’s security sector came together in Auckland to discuss the idea of a network or ‘collective’ of sector representative organisations. It was a diverse crowd, covering information, physical and personnel security, risk management, business continuity, and everything in between. Participants included current and/ or former office bearers of key sector member organisations, including the NZSA, New Zealand Defence Industry Association (NZDIA), ASIS New Zealand Chapter, New Zealand Institute of Private Investigators (NZIPI), New Zealand Institute of Intelligence Professionals (NZIIP), ISC2, RiskNZ, and the New Zealand Information Security Forum, as well as academics from Massey University’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Waikato University’s New Zealand Institute of Security and Crime Science, and the University of Auckland. In a series of discussions led by Massey University’s Professor Rouben Azizian, participants debated New Zealand’s current security outlook, the challenges facing the non-government security sector – including the security industry – in its engagement with government and the broader community, and the opportunities for a more ‘networked’ way of working – perhaps via a formal collective of representative organisations in the sector (including those mentioned above).
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NZSM
The landscape In 2001, New Zealand’s Cabinet decided that an ‘all hazards – all risks’ approach be taken to national security. Accordingly, New Zealand’s capacity to deal with the full range of national security challenges, states the National Security System Handbook, requires a system “able to leverage partnerships between government agencies, local government, private companies, and individuals.” The security of New Zealand is contributed to by an active and talented non-government security sector made up of a range of private suppliers, academic institutions and industry organisations. The sector supports and complements various government defence, national security, law enforcement, public safety and emergency management agencies in protecting New Zealanders, their assets and their information. While the role of government agencies in New Zealand’s security is widely acknowledged and respected, it would be fair to say that the nongovernment security sector’s critical role remains challenged by a lack of understanding and acknowledgement within broader national discourse and – critically – within central government. Challenge: At arm’s length The privatisation of aspects of security and the emergence of a security industry has occurred in earnest only since around the 1980s. The industry’s relative youth and the immaturity of the legislative and administrative regimes designed to regulate it have arguably constituted
ongoing barriers to the willingness of government – and particularly law enforcement agencies – to work with the industry to the level and extent that might be found in comparable jurisdictions internationally. It’s a situation not helped by the recent State Services Commission (SSC) Report of the Inquiry into the Use of External Security Consultants by Government Agencies, published in the wake of the Southern Response controversy. Although the inquiry found no evidence of widespread inappropriate surveillance by external security consultants on behalf of government agencies, it has nevertheless led to agency-specific reviews advocating increased caution in terms of involving and communicating with “outside groups or private companies.” The involvement of industry in the supply of products and services to (and in lieu of ) government and law enforcement agencies is critical to New Zealand’s domestic security, yet the nongovernment security sector continues to be kept at arm’s length. This impacts on the ability of the government and non-government sectors to maximise the benefits of collaboration in the interests of New Zealand’s security. Challenge: The perception gap The NZ Police, NZ Customs, Defence Force and other government security agencies enjoy a generally positive reputation among the public. According to the New Zealand Defence Force Annual Report 2014, for example, an independent public opinion poll conducted on the NZDF showed that “New Zealanders
August / September 2019
