A new head of New Zealand's foreign intelligence agency has been named.
Prime Minister John Key has announced the appointment of senior public servant Andrew Hampton as the director of the Government Communications Security Bureau, for a five-year term starting on April 26.
Mr Hampton has previously been deputy secretary courts for the Ministry of Justice, deputy chief executive of Crown Law, deputy secretary for Education and director of the Office of Treaty Settlements.
He is currently the government chief talent officer at the State Services Commission, and is the head of profession for human resources in the state services.
Current acting director Lisa Fong will continue until Mr Hampton takes up the role.