Frequently Asked Questions

General

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What does the Institute do?

The role of the Institute is to foster collaboration amongst intelligence professionals in Aotearoa. We were officially launched in August 2008 with then-Prime Minister Helen Clarke delivering the opening address for our inaugural Annual Conference. The methods and strategies we adopt to achieve our goal have evolved over the years; you can find out more about our latest strategy on our About us page.

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What does the Institute actually do to advance the profession?

We work with our members to identify what is important to them and what challenges are facing the industry. From there, we identify ways to better support them. Examples of how we have previously done this include:

  • Providing forums for discussion about relevant, cross-agency issues
  • Subsidising training opportunities
  • Writing reports to represent the views and concerns of our members to senior decision-makers within the sector
  • Developing resources to improve professionalism and consistency across the sector, such as the Code of Ethics and the Practitioner’s Handbook.

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Who are our members?

Our members come from a wide range of public and private sector organisations. Anybody who is involved in an intelligence or intelligence-related role is welcome to apply for membership. Additionally, we welcome student members who are interested in the industry.

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What kind of events do you hold?

We try to hold a variety of face-to-face and virtual events, to allow our members to get involved and meet others regardless of where they are located. The type of events range from more serious events including interviews, panel discussions and presentations, to more fun-oriented gatherings such as a Christmas event or a networking drinks evening. You can find out more about upcoming events here.

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Do I have to be a member to get involved?

Not at all. Our members benefit from training opportunities, a community forum, a jobs board, members-only events and reduced rates for tickets to our annual conference and awards nights. Non-members can still contribute to the growth and development of the intelligence community, and are encouraged to get involved by submitting articles and news items that are of interest to others working in the sector. We are also always looking for speakers for regional and virtual events. If you have a story or presentation you want to share, you can tell us about it here.

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There’s a conference and an awards night?

Yes! The annual conference is an opportunity to hear experts discuss the events of the previous year and learn from other agencies about how they have developed their intelligence capabilities, and the successes and challenges they have faced. It’s also your chance to hear what the Institute has been doing to support both our members and the wider community. The conference is typically held in Wellington in August.

The NZIIP Intelligence Community Awards are a prestigious annual event dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the exceptional talent within our sector. Nominations are accepted from across the entire community, not just the NZIIP membership, and showcase the individuals and teams who have delivered exceptional performance or contributions, either within single agencies or across the industry as a whole. The awards night is held in November and takes place the same day as the Institute’s Annual General Meeting.

Both events are ticketed events and details of how to purchase tickets will be promulgated on our website and via our various communication channels a few months prior. Details of award categories and how to make a nomination will be released approximately 3 months prior.

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How do I become a sponsor?

The Institute is proud to be supported by a range of industry partners. Our sponsorship options are available here; for more details contact info@nziip.org.nz

Memberships

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What are the benefits of membership?
All our members have access to our membership area which includes newsletters, a community forum, links to external resources of interest, a jobs board and access to information on relevant training opportunities. We also work with training providers to provide our full members with opportunities for either heavily subsidised or free training. Associate and student members can apply for places on these courses, however priority is given to full members.
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How do I apply to be a member?
All membership applications are vetted to ensure that applicants are genuine. The membership application will detail the application requirements for each membership type. A one-time administration fee of $50 is required for this process. Once an application has successfully completed the vetting process, you will be directed to a payment gateway to pay the annual fee relevant to your membership type.
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What if I was previously a member and want to rejoin?

The vetting process will have already been completed and you do not have to resubmit an application. Email membership@nziip.org.nz and we will check our database for your records. As long as you have previously been registered then you will only pay the annual fee.

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What is corporate membership?

Some agencies already have a bulk subscription in place for their employees. These agencies will have an internal coordinator, who should be your first point of contact. If you’re not sure if your agency has corporate memberships, email us at membership@nziip.org.nz.

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How are membership applications assessed?
Our membership coordinator will manually verify that the information you provide with your application is correct. The process can take up to 10 working days. This process is in place to prevent fake or disingenuous applicants from accessing our networks.
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What is the AGM?

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place every year before the awards night. It starts with the Chairperson providing their reflections on the previous year. There is an opportunity for proposed rule changes (motions) to be put forward and voted on, and it is also when new committee members are voted in. We welcome the attendance of members at our AGMs, regardless of if you are nominated to be on the committee, or you are putting a motion forward. All information about the AGMs will be circulated to members via email.

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What do I do if I’m not getting emails?
If you suspect that you are not getting our emails, please email info@nziip.org.nz
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Can I bring non-members to events held by NZIIP?

Many of our events are open to all interested parties. If it is advertised in the public area on the main website, then you are welcome to bring non-members. For members-only events, restrictions are typically in place for reasons such as classification or venue size. If you wish to bring guests then you can email events@nziip.org.nz and make a request to register their details for the event. Please note that non-members will be turned away if they have not been pre-approved.

Student

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What do intelligence analysts do?

Intelligence is the product resulting from processed information. It aims to enhance understanding and reduce uncertainty to support decision making about future courses of action. This applies equally to supporting ministers and chief executives as it does to frontline staff.

Analysts, as part of this process within a wider team, interpret the requirements of decision makers and assemble information (unprocessed or unanalysed knowledge or data). Context is then applied to enhance understanding of the information, producing key assessments supported by facts and logic. To be relevant to the decisions that need to be made, key assessments are predictive, timely, actionable, and accurate. This is then formed into a product to be communicated to the customer.

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Who do intelligence analysts work for?
As analysis is more about skills and technique than sector knowledge, there are a multitude of job opportunities within both public and private sector organisations. Our members come from backgrounds including police, defence, finance, aviation, civil defence, government ministries, intelligence agencies, and a range of private sector entities.
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Why join the profession?
The intelligence sector is ideal for those who are naturally curious, and who enjoy problem-solving and thinking analytically. From very early in your career your work will be valued and will influence the decisions made within your employing organisation. It is not unusual for new members of the profession to be working on portfolios that relate directly to national and global safety. If you are looking for a challenging, yet rewarding career that allows you to make a real difference, then becoming an intelligence analyst could be an excellent choice.
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I’m interested in interning – what do I do?

Our recruitment rounds for interns take place in November/December of each year. Vacancies for interns are usually published on university career websites, however, if you are interested in interning and would like to find out more at other stages during the year, please email info@nziip.co.nz.