Judith Collins Unveils New Security Guidance to Safeguard Start-Ups and Emerging Technologies

“As a country known for our ingenuity and our collaborative, solution-driven approach, we must be aware of the vulnerabilities that come with open innovation,” Minister Collins said.

New Zealand's Minister responsible for Security and Intelligence, Judith Collins, has endorsed new measures designed to protect the nation’s start-up and emerging technology sectors from the escalating risk of economic espionage. This guidance, developed by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and the Government Communications Security Bureau’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), provides targeted security recommendations for businesses navigating a global landscape of sophisticated security threats.

“As a country known for our ingenuity and our collaborative, solution-driven approach, we must be aware of the vulnerabilities that come with open innovation,” Minister Collins said. “Our innovative breakthroughs make us a target, and we're seeing an increasing number of both state-sponsored and criminal actors looking to exploit our technological and intellectual advances for commercial or military advantage.”

The guidance, titled Secure Innovation: Security Advice for Emerging Technology Companies, has been released in conjunction with similar advisories from New Zealand’s Five Eyes security partners: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This collaborative approach underscores the international security community’s recognition of the growing threats facing technological innovators worldwide.

As New Zealand’s technology sector continues to expand, its contributions to the national economy are undeniable. In 2022, the sector exported $10.7 billion worth of goods and services, becoming the country's third-largest export industry. Additionally, the sector contributes an estimated $23 billion to the national gross domestic product (GDP), marking it as a critical area for both economic growth and national security.

“Security should not be viewed as a barrier to innovation,” Collins continued. “In fact, when built in from the beginning, robust security can protect valuable intellectual property and ultimately enhance the value of products and services.”

The new guidance is particularly relevant across Collins' ministerial portfolios, which include Science, Innovation and Technology, Defence, and Space – areas rich with home-grown research, technology, and development that are uniquely positioned to shape New Zealand’s future. With these protections in place, Collins hopes to reinforce the resilience of New Zealand's tech-driven economy against emerging threats.

The Five Eyes alliance, a long-standing intelligence collaboration between New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has collectively moved to share more openly about the security risks faced by their respective technology sectors. By raising awareness and providing practical advice, these countries aim to help companies recognize potential red flags and safeguard their innovations effectively.

This proactive guidance is a critical step toward fostering an environment where innovation can thrive without falling prey to foreign exploitation.