New Zealand’s House of Representatives has approved Brendan Horsley’s appointment as the country’s first-ever inspector-general of defence.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced on Wednesday that Horsley would oversee establishing the new office and its support networks.
Horsley’s term will start on Jan. 26, 2025, and end on Nov. 30, 2025. He will concurrently serve as inspector-general of intelligence and security, a role he has held since June 2020. In this capacity, he leads the activities of the intelligence and security agencies, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communication Security Bureau.
In the appointment transcript, Associate Minister of Defence Chris Penk said the inspector-general of defence’s mandate includes investigating incidents within the New Zealand Defence Force and recommending improvements to policies and procedures. The role also requires collaboration with other relevant oversight bodies, such as the secretary of defense, the human rights commissioner and the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
Wellington created the Office of the Inspector-General of Defence to provide independent oversight of NZDF. It is a governor-general appointee based on a recommendation from the House and was established following a government inquiry into Operation Burnham in 2018.
Allegations against NZ Special Air Service personnel involved in Operation Burnham in Afghanistan in 2010 led to the government inquiry. The review examined the NZDF’s handling of civilian casualty reports and assessed the conduct of New Zealand forces, proposing in a 2020 report the appointment of an independent oversight to enhance the military force’s accountability. The government accepted this recommendation and passed the necessary legislation in 2023.