Parliamentary Services to strengthen security after threats to MPs

Parliamentary Services is strengthening its security capability, despite a shake-up affecting office security and staffing gaps inside its cyber team.

The agency said a smaller unit overseeing security assets in MPs' electorate and community offices - including CCTV and electronic entry systems - had been merged into the broader electorate office support structure to improve coordination and service delivery.

It also confirmed that Parliament's cyber security operation has been without a permanent leader since December and that two senior IT managers who left late last year are still being replaced.

The changes came as the agency reported that threats against MPs were increasing.

Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said there had been no changes to the wider Parliament security team responsible for precinct security, intelligence monitoring, and member protection.

"The security asset team plays a big role indirectly in MPs' safety, so this merge means we now have all staff who are responsible for an electorate and community office - from leases, building work, IST, and these security assets - all working together," Gonzalez-Montero said.

He said the changes would streamline office setup processes while maintaining security oversight.

''Measures like controls in electorate and community offices and changes from the Parliament Act illustrate how seriously we are taking security.''

Gonzalez-Montero confirmed Parliament's cyber security team had been operating under acting leadership since December.

While declining to comment on individual employment matters, Gonzalez-Montero said two IT managers had also left at the end of 2025 and recruitment was underway for replacement positions alongside a newly established IT leadership role.

''Digital security is critical to promoting Parliament's information, systems, and services. Our focus is on having an operating model in place to address challenges by focusing effort across core security functions.''

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.