New Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security appointed

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced the appointment of Brendan Horsley as Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.

 Mr Horsley will be appointed for a term of five years, starting from 8 June 2020.

 “The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security has a significant oversight role to ensure the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau act with propriety and operate lawfully and effectively,” Jacinda Ardern said.

 Mr Horsley has had an extensive career at Crown Law, most recently in the role of Deputy Solicitor-General (Criminal). In that role he has been responsible for the professional leadership and supervision of the Crown prosecution network. He has also had significant involvement with the intelligence agencies and the Office of the Inspector-General.

 Previously Mr Horsley worked at the Ministry of Justice as the first National Director of the Public Defence Service, responsible for providing legal aid criminal defence services.

 “I would like to thank the Deputy IGIS, Madeleine Laracy, who has been acting IGIS since the position became vacant from the appointment of Cheryl Gwyn to the High Court in July 2019,” Jacinda Ardern said.

 The appointment of Mr Horsley is made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the House of Representatives. Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee is consulted, as is required by statute.

 Notes to editors:

The IGIS is a statutory office established to provide independent oversight of the intelligence and security agencies; the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau.

 The IGIS is responsible for:

•  ensuring that security and intelligence agencies carry out their activities lawfully and properly

•  independently investigating complaints about the intelligence and security agencies

•  providing advice about oversight of the intelligence and security agencies to the New Zealand Government and the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.

 Brendan Horsley biography

Brendan Horsley was most recently the Deputy Solicitor-General (Criminal) at Crown Law from 2014 through to 2020. His role oversaw an in-house team of 30, and the wider Crown Solicitor Network of around 180 lawyers, 16 Crown solicitors and $38m of Crown investment per year.

Mr Horsley has an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court in 1991.

Based in Gisborne as a Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor from 1992 to 1999, Mr Horsley then joined the Commerce Commission’s litigation team until 2002.

Mr Horsley joined Crown Law as Crown Counsel in the Criminal Team in February 2002 and became the Team Leader of the Criminal Team in July 2006 through to 2011.

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Solicitor General, Mr Horsley was the first national Director of the Public Defence Service, part of the Ministry of Justice, from 2011 until 2014.

Mr Horsley lives in Wellington with his wife and they have three adult children.