[Sitting date: 25 November 2014. Volume:702;Page:11. Text is subject to correction.]

10. METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader - Green) to the Minister in charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service : Does he have confidence in the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister in charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service): Yes.

Metiria Turei : Does the Minister consider it appropriate for the SIS director, Rebecca Kitteridge, to have made public statements in defence of the Prime Minister’s office during an election campaign and prior to the Inspector-General’s investigation into the role of the Prime Minister’s office in releasing SIS information?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON : That is a malignant description of what the director said. The director had made it clear, soon after her appointment, that after a 6-months settling in period she would make a number of public statements. That she did. As I say, the member’s characterisation of what Ms Kitteridge did is wrong, and it is malignant.

Metiria Turei : Given that two directors of the SIS have now interfered with a general election—Dr Tucker in 2011 and Ms Kitteridge in 2014—why would the New Zealand public have any confidence that the SIS will use its intended extended powers in the public interest, as opposed to National’s party political purposes?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON : If the previous question was malignant, then that question was especially malignant. She does no service to her party or this place by asking filth like that. The director of the SIS is a highly professional woman who is doing a great job and is acting on the recommendations of the Inspector-General in a very careful and professional manner.

ENDS

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