National security law

Merge all spy laws, report recommends

After decades of tinkering and dozens of ad hoc changes, it's been recommended New Zealand's numerous spy laws be scrapped and replaced with a single piece of legislation.

The country's first-ever independent review of intelligence and security has just been released, blasting the current laws as inconsistent, difficult to interpret, not comprehensive and lacking clarity.

In all, 107 recommendations have been made -- top of the list is a merger of the Security Intelligence Service Act, Government Communications Security Bureau Act, Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act and the Intelligence and Security Committee Act. 

Former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Michael Cullen co-authored the review, and says the fragmented nature of the current framework means the agencies are not working effectively or efficiently, and officials are uncertain about what the law even permits.