Budget 2015: Spy agencies get big funding boost

SIS and GCSB Minister Christopher Finlayson says most of the new money would go towards recruiting and retaining staff, information technology, and vetting services. File photo / NZ Herald

New Zealand's intelligence agencies will get a funding boost as concerns rise about the Islamic State (Isis), cyber-attacks and other threats.

At the same time the police budget has fallen slightly, after being frozen for the previous five years - this is despite a boost of operating funding in Budget 2015.

The Security Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) will each get a funding boost of $20 million, SIS and GCSB Minister Christopher Finlayson said.

The bulk of the new money would go towards recruiting and retaining staff, information technology, and vetting services, he said.

"The National-led Government is focused on managing New Zealand's evolving security environment and on addressing responsibly the risks that the rapid rise of Isil presents locally, regionally and internationally," Mr Finlayson said.

The intelligence agencies' overall budget has increased for the SIS by 12 per cent, and has declined by 6 per cent at the GCSB.

New police operating funding of $164 million over the next four years will help reduce crime, Police Minister Michael Woodhouse said.

"Increased foot patrols in our communities, combined with frontline staff being equipped with the latest mobile technology, have allowed the police to be more visible and deliver over half a million additional frontline hours each year," Mr Woodhouse said.

New Zealand Police's overall spending for 2015/16 is $1,609,073, which is a one per cent decrease from 2014/2015.

The Police Association has expressed concern about wages and front-line police hours as a result of previously-frozen budgets.

The Serious Fraud Office will get an extra $8.1 million of operating funding over the next four years, which Mr Woodhouse said would help maintain New Zealand's corruption-free reputation. In last year's Budget the SFO had its funding reduced by $2 million.

It has now gone up by 1.7 per cent to $9,607,000 in 2015/16.

Corrections' budget has gone up by 2.7 per cent to about $1.57 billion.