Privacy, Security and the Cyber Dilemma: An Examination of New Zealand’s Response to the Rising Threat of Cyber-attack

Cyber-attacks present significant challenges to a modern, globalised world. Progressively used by criminal and terrorist organisations to attack or victimise non-state actors, governments are increasingly forced to pursue cyber-security strategies to ensure the security of their citizens and private sectors. An examination of New Zealand’s response to the threat of cyber-attacks shows that successive governments have taken steps to enhance New Zealand’s domestic cyber-security capacity and international cyber-security partnerships. These steps have been highly contentious where they have resulted in greater domestic surveillance capabilities. Despite this, New Zealand has enacted significant oversight mechanisms that provide reassurance that the New Zealand Government is mindful of the delicate steps it must take to maintain an appropriate balance between privacy and security.