Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

External review of Operation Exploration released

Media release
8 August 2019

External review of Operation Exploration released

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has today released an external review into how the non-interference provisions of the Crown Minerals Act are effected.

MBIE Chief Executive Carolyn Tremain commissioned the review of Operation Exploration to ensure the ministry is planning and operationalising its responsibilities in relation to the non-interference provisions in the Crown Minerals Act. It was in response to the State Services Commission’s (SSC) inquiry into the use of external security consultants.

External reviewer Simon Murdoch was commissioned to undertake the review and has made 13 recommendations.

“I accept the report and the recommendations it has made to improve governance, risk management and knowledge management,” Ms Tremain said.

“Mr Murdoch found that since the National Plan for implementing the non-interference provisions of the Crown Minerals Act was adopted late 2014 there has been considerable progress within the national security system in how maritime risk management is conceptualised and organised.

“It is pleasing to note that the review found that the Plan has performed satisfactorily and proved fit for purpose in the circumstances it has encountered to date, with one major exception highlighted in the SSC inquiry, and some other weaknesses or revealed shortcomings of design.

“I will soon establish a new cross-agency project called the Non-Interference Zone Plan Refresh which will be led by MBIE, and will involve Police, Maritime NZ and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). Customs and the Ministry of Primary Industries will also be involved as needed.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“As part of this project, and in response to the report’s recommendations on governance , MBIE will work with Police, Maritime NZ, and NZDF to increase the level of governance oversight of the regime. I have directed my Deputy Chief Executive from the Building, Resources and Markets group to work with his colleagues from relevant government agencies to progress this.

“Additionally, the memorandum of understanding in place governing the broader working relationship between MBIE and Police will be reviewed and amended to explicitly include expectations of professional conduct around information gathering and sharing. This will be aligned with the wider work MBIE is already undertaking to give effect to the SSC’s model standards on information gathering and public trust.

“The project will also amend the National Plan that governs the implementation of the non-interference provisions to provide for greater emphasis on being proportionate in terms of risk mitigations, and wider engagement with environmental and civil society groups and a risk register will be embedded into the National Plan.

“Work is underway to implement all the report’s recommendations and they will be operationally tested this summer.”

Documentation:
The Murdoch Report [Scoop copy externalreviewnoninterferenceprovisionscrownmineralsact.pdf]
A letter to State Services Commissioner from MBIE CE Carolyn Tremain
Briefing: Implementing the recommendations of the Murdoch Report
The Terms of Reference for the external review
MBIE Transparency Statement

Background:
In March 2018 the SSC commissioned an inquiry into the use of external security consultants by government agencies. The findings of the inquiry were released in December 2018.

Although the inquiry found no evidence of widespread inappropriate surveillance by external security consultants on behalf of government agencies, it did find that the system was not operating in a way that New Zealanders would expect.

Among its agency-specific findings, the inquiry found that MBIE’s management of its regulatory responsibilities in the petroleum and minerals area contributed to a perception of bias by some stakeholders, and was evidence of poor regulatory practice.

As part of MBIE’s response, Chief Executive Carolyn Tremain commissioned the external review into the way in which MBIE plans and operationalises its responsibilities in relation to the non-interference provisions of the Crown Minerals Act.

MBIE’s documents provided to the SSC inquiry into the use of external security consultants are available here

[ends]

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.