5. Question No. 5—NZ Security Intelligence ServiceDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori) to the Minister responsible for the NZ Security Intelligence ServiceQuestion No. 5—NZ Security Intelligence Service5. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori) to the Minister responsible for the NZ Security Intelligence Service: Does he stand by all his statements and actions?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister responsible for the NZ Security Intelligence Service): Talofa lava Mr Speaker. There is a longstanding convention of not discussing or confirming what may or may not be New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) operational matters. This is necessary to protect the NZSIS's methods capabilities and areas of focus so that the agency can protect New Zealand's national security. For that reason it's not in the public interest for me to address every statement and action but generally speaking the answer is yes.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: What action has he taken since being appointed Minister to ensure that the SIS shifts its focus off peaceful Māori activists and Muslim citizens and instead targets the right people including violent white supremacists?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: It would be apparent from the report of the royal commission of inquiry into the Christchurch mosque attacks that the NZSIS began its work specifically on white identity violent extremism in May 2018 and has continued to deal with that threat along with other terrorist threats and other threats to the national security of New Zealand.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: What specifically is he doing as Minister to ensure that the SIS are working to protect Māori who are increasingly being targeted by violent and racist white supremacist rhetoric?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I'm satisfied that the SIS is devoting appropriate resources to all of the national security threats that New Zealand faces including the threats of terrorism which itself includes the threat of white identity violent extremism which itself includes threats against Māori as a people. I appreciated the opportunity to meet with representatives of Te Paati Māori yesterday with the Director-General of Security and to go through those issues. As the member will be aware the director-general has undertaken to go back and ensure that both the work that they do and in conjunction with partners such as the New Zealand Police meets the expectations of that member and indeed all New Zealanders.Rawiri Waititi: What specific measures and processes does the SIS currently have in place in order to monitor the rise of anti-Māori white supremacist threats?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Both the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and indeed its partner agency the Government Communications Security Bureau have I am satisfied the means to monitor the threats that we would expect them as a nation to be monitoring and keeping abreast of and are working in conjunction with other Government agencies and partners including partners overseas to make sure that New Zealanders are safe from those threats and that includes Māori.Rawiri Waititi: Will he work with the Minister of Police to establish a joint task force specifically targeting white supremacist groups and organisations who seek to inflict harm on tangata whenua and if not why not?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I assure the member that the Security Intelligence Service and the police do work closely on matters of national security and where they are manifest and where people are identified as acting out those threats. But in any event in light of the events of last week that that member and his colleague Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have brought to the nation's attention as well as to mine there is clearly a need to ensure that the work that all Government agencies involved in national security are doing is responding effectively to those threats bringing people to justice and making sure that they and all members of the New Zealand community are safe.Hon Marama Davidson: What evidence does the Minister have that NZSIS is able to identify and respond appropriately to white supremacy rhetoric and threats of violence?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Again I refer that member to the report of the royal commission of inquiry into the Christchurch mosque attacks where the inquiry laid out both the work of the SIS and the threats that it is across. But as the Minister in charge I can assure that member and indeed the House that I am satisfied that that agency and all partner agencies are responding effectively to the national security threats that they face.