Glossary

An image-based message board on the internet where anyone can post comments and share images anonymously.

New Zealand’s integrated approach to national security includes four areas of activity known as the 4Rs – Reduction, Readiness, Response and Recovery.

A website composed of user-created message boards similar in structure to 4chan.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Government Communications Security Bureau, Immigration New Zealand, New Zealand Customs Service, New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.

An Islamist extremist terrorist organisation, which was responsible for the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States of America.

The Combined Threat Assessment Group (hosted by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service) and the National Assessments Bureau (in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet).

The environment that provides authority for a Public sector agency to operate effectively. Formal sources of authority include legislation, Cabinet decisions and budget approvals.  Informal sources of authority include ministers, central agencies, other Public sector agencies, stakeholders, communities, civil society and the private sector.

Social media username used by the individual.  It is a variation that corresponds to the individual’s initials.  

Capacity describes whether there is enough of something (for example, staff) to achieve a certain outcome.  Capability describes the ability to achieve a certain outcome, for example, whether people have the right knowledge, skills and technical tools.

Closed-circuit television, also known as video surveillance, is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission (formerly the State Services Commission) and the Treasury.

Central European Time.

Legal responsibility for breaching an obligation recognised by law.  

The space for collective action on shared interests, purposes and values.  It is the third sector of society, along with government and business.  It comprises civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations.

A model of counter-terrorism investigation that begins with lead information that is then investigated. 

A fortnightly meeting hosted by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and attended by the Department of Corrections, Immigration New Zealand, New Zealand Customs Service, New Zealand Police and (since September 2019) the Government Communications Security Bureau.  Agencies bring leads they have and the other agencies can look across their own data holdings to provide further intelligence on the lead.  

Information derived from communications.  The primary component of signals intelligence (SIGINT).

The process of working with communities to address issues affecting their wellbeing.  

Court-imposed civil orders that place conditions or restrictions – such as curfews and electronic monitoring – on individuals who are seen to be at high risk of engaging in terrorism.     

A system of government where there is a Sovereign (that is, monarch) who does not rule, but instead carries out constitutional, ceremonial and representational duties. The monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is New Zealand's head of state, while the prime minister is the head of government.  

New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.

Counter-terrorism activities undertaken by relevant Public sector agencies to detect terrorists and disrupt their organisation, planning, preparation and attacks.

A framework used to guide the activities of the Public sector agencies involved in the wider counter-terrorism effort.

Legal responsibility for committing an offence prohibited by law.  

The meaning of the Crown varies according to the context in which it is used. Generally, it describes executive government conducted by ministers and the relevant Public service agencies. It does not normally include organisations that have their own corporate identities, such as state-owned enterprises.

Digital or virtual currency based on a vast network of computers, which allows it to exist outside the control of governments and central banking authorities.

The ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures, by a person aware of their own worldview and recognising and valuing cultural and social norms and differences. Culture can include ethnicity, nationality, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religious or faith affiliation.

The Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).  An Islamist extremist terrorist organisation.

Part of the internet that is not visible to search engines and requires the use of specialist anonymising software to access.  

Combining data from various sources and presenting it in a summarised format. 

A process that enables agencies to be aware of each other’s activities where they are investigating the same subject of interest. 

A person who has grown up in the digital age. 

An internet connection that transmits digital data using telephone lines. 

Involves a leader setting clear directions, objectives and expectations. 

The chief executive of the Government Communications Security Bureau. This is a statutory title defined in the Intelligence and Security Act 2017.  

The chief executive of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.  This is a statutory title defined in the Intelligence and Security Act 2017.  

Differences in individuals’ and groups’ traits and characteristics, such as ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age and disability.

Terrorism or terrorist activity that occurs in New Zealand. We note that this may differ from definitions used by others, including New Zealand’s counter-terrorism agencies.

Acronym for electronic funds transfer at point of sale. An electronic payment system.

A branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of hormone problems, such as diabetes. An endocrinologist is a doctor who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of hormone problems.

Additional firearms licence privileges to possess and use certain types of firearms.

A range of views and ideologies that are underpinned by a strong form of nationalism that holds that Western civilisation and its values are under threat from non-native people (particularly immigrants) and ideas (such as multiculturalism).  Both the radical right and extreme right-wing fit under the broad umbrella of the far right.
We do not use a hyphen for far right even when it is being used as an adjective.

How a firearms licence application is processed by New Zealand Police.

The system of firearms licensing including policies and administration, and the regulation of semi-automatic firearms.

A person of good character, who can be trusted to use firearms responsibly.

The intelligence sharing partnership between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

A phrase used by the Government Communications Security Bureau meaning collection and storage of all communications data collected from a communications link, before irrelevant or unwanted information has been filtered out.

A method of calculating staffing based on hours worked.  One full-time equivalent corresponds to 40 hours of work per week.

The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group driven by the urge to conform and valuing harmony over critical thinking or evaluation.

Goods and Services Tax.

A head covering worn in public by some Muslim women.

Gathering information about the security levels and layout of a building and/or the usual activities of people in the building. An activity sometimes carried out by a person planning a terrorist attack.

Te reo Māori (Māori language) term for a meeting or gathering.

Information derived from covert human sources, private individuals who volunteer information, face to face meetings with individuals, community engagement and communications.

An Arabic term for a congregation hall for Shia (a denomination of Islam) commemoration ceremonies.

A device designed to cause fires.

The Government Communications Security Bureau and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.  This is a statutory term under the Intelligence and Security Act 2017.

Terrorism or terrorist activity that occurs outside New Zealand. We note that this may differ from definitions used by others, including New Zealand’s counter-terrorism agencies.

A unique number linked to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. 

Te reo Māori (Māori language) term that refers to a tribe – a large group of Māori people bound together by descent from a common ancestor and associated with a distinct territory.   

Jumu'ah is the prayer that occurs at solar noon on Fridays.

A single person operating alone to plan and carry out a terrorist attack.

A device that contains ammunition to feed into the chamber of a firearm.

The indigenous population of New Zealand.

An Arabic term for more than two masjid.

An Arabic term for a mosque, the Muslim place of worship.  In Arabic, masjid literally translates to "place of prostration (in prayer)".  

An Arabic term for two masjid.

An Arabic term for the an-Nur Mosque.

A combination of role-playing video games and massively multiplayer online games, in which a large number of players interact with each other in a virtual world.

An employee of New Zealand Police, including a person seconded to New Zealand Police.

An image, video or piece of text, typically humorous in nature that is spread via the internet, often through social media.

Information about other data, such as the date the data was created, who created it, and who can access it.

A semi-automatic firearm fitted with:
- a magazine capable of holding more than 15 .22 calibre rimfire cartridges or more than seven cartridges of any other kind; and/or
- a military pattern free-standing pistol grip; and/or
- a folding or telescopic butt; and/or
- bayonet lugs and/or
- a flash suppressor.

The process by which a radicalised person moves from an extremist intent to preparatory steps to engage in terrorist activity, such as researching potential targets, training or increased use of concealment behaviour.

A database used by New Zealand Police to manage information relevant to operational policing.

A family member of a firearms licence applicant who can attest to the applicant being a fit and proper person.

The Government Communications Security Bureau, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and the National Security Group of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (including the National Assessments Bureau).

A connection.

The primary governance board overseeing New Zealand’s national security and resilience.  Its main role is the identification and governance of national security risk.  It is chaired by the Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Awareness and minimisation of behaviours that might attract attention from Public sector agencies.  

A branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and vision problems, such as cataracts. An ophthalmologist is a doctor who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment (including surgery) of eye diseases and vision problems.

An individual born and raised in Oslo, Norway who committed a terrorist attack in Oslo and on Utøya Island, Norway on 22 July 2011. 

A collective term for people of Pacific Island descent.

A tool, developed by the central agencies, for Public sector agencies and their chief executives to improve the performance of a Public sector agency. 

A review of a Public sector agency completed by independent reviewers using the Performance Improvement Framework. 

Increasing divergence between individuals and groups holding different views. 

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Government Communications Security Bureau, Immigration New Zealand, New Zealand Customs Service, New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.

In general, an organisation that works for the government of New Zealand. In this report, “Public sector agencies” means the 217 organisations listed in the appendix.

The central religious text of Islam.

The process through which people develop commitment to a particular extremist ideology.  People can radicalise to violence when they come to see violence as a feasible tool to address their grievances.

Ideologies and beliefs that form part of the far right. Those on the radical right generally use democratic means to achieve their aims and do not openly endorse the use of violence as a legitimate tool to achieve their aims.

One of the 4Rs.  Recovery activities are focused on bringing about the immediate, medium-term and long-term recovery of individuals and communities after a national security event.  

A doctor working in a hospital who is training in a specialised field of medicine.

Ideologies and beliefs that form part of the far right. Those in the extreme right-wing often believe that democracy should be replaced, and they see non-democratic means, such as violence, as legitimate tools to achieve their aims. We use a hyphen for right-wing even when it is not being used as an adjective.

The likelihood that a threat will occur, and the seriousness of consequences if it does. The more likely the threat, and the more severe the likely consequences, the greater the risk.

Removing sensitive information (often by rewording language) from a document so that it can be more widely distributed.

A sheath or holster for a knife.

A digital storage card used in portable electronic devices.

When a group of people or communities are seen primarily as a potential security threat.

A firearm that is capable of, with each pull of the trigger:
- firing a cartridge and ejecting its case; and
- chambering another cartridge.

Information that, if disclosed, would be likely to cause damage to the security or defence of New Zealand, or to the New Zealand government's international relations, or prejudice the maintenance of the law or endanger the safety of a person.

An Arabic term for the plural “martyr”.  The term shuhada is used in this report to refer to people who died as martyrs as a result of the terrorist attack on 15 March 2019.

Information derived from electronic communications ("signals" such as phone calls and emails), the primary component of which is communications intelligence (COMINT).

A socially cohesive society is one in which all individuals and groups have a sense of belonging, social inclusion, participation, recognition and legitimacy.  

The process of improving how individuals and groups participate in and contribute to society on their own terms. 

The ability of a business, organisation or government to do its work because it has the ongoing approval or acceptance of society to do so.

The time of day when the sun appears to have reached its highest point in the sky. 

Where an entire network of rules and practices disadvantages less empowered groups while serving at the same time to advantage the dominant group.

New Zealand Police employees who have taken the constable's oath under the Policing Act 2008.

Te reo Māori (Māori language) term for Māori, which means “people of the land”.

A term used by law enforcement, security and military personnel to refer to the strengthening of a building or installation in order to protect it in the event of an attack. This can include security measures like installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) and alarms.

A person in New Zealand of non-Māori descent.

A small semi-independent or entirely separate unit of a larger terrorist organisation.

Te reo Māori (Māori language) name for the Treaty of Waitangi – New Zealand’s founding document signed by Māori and the British Crown in 1840. 

A source of potential damage or danger.

The threat environment.

Software that allows users to surf the web anonymously by concealing the user’s location as well as what they are looking at online.  It can also be used to access the dark web. 

Operational (often secret) practices.

The deliberate act of making comments, usually on internet forums, to provoke a reaction from readers.

A person unrelated to a firearms applicant, such as a friend or an employer, who can attest to the applicant being a fit and proper person.

Software that allows the user to create a secure connection to another server over the internet. Once connected, the user can browse the internet using that server. In doing so, the user is provided with an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the different server, which hides the user’s location.

A grouping of Parliamentary appropriations that authorise responsible Ministers to incur expenses or capital expenditure.  Each Vote is administered by one Public service department.

A tribunal that considers contemporary and historical breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Te reo Māori (Māori language) term for family.

Public sector agencies that contribute to or support the counter-terrorism effort, including:
• the agencies involved in the counter-terrorism effort (the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Government Communications Security Bureau, Immigration New Zealand, New Zealand Customs Service, New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service); and
• agencies who can play a role in supporting counter-terrorism activities where it overlaps with their functions, including Public sector agencies (such as the Department of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade). 

The group of Public sector agencies that collect, assess or otherwise use secret intelligence and those agencies that collect and/or use classified intelligence for external or domestic policy and operations.  Includes agencies in the New Zealand Intelligence Community (the National Security Group of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Government Communications Security Bureau and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service) and other agencies such as the Department of Corrections, Immigration New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Customs Service, the New Zealand Defence Force and New Zealand Police.