KEY POINTS:
New light has been shed on what the world's spy chiefs got up to during a clandestine party in Wellington last month.
Speeches from the secret event, held at Government House in honour of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service's 50th anniversary, have been posted on the SIS website in a bid to appear more open.
The release of information does not include party photos, but the speeches provide an insight into the make-up of New Zealand's intelligence service and the pressures it faces.
SIS director Warren Tucker told the gathering that New Zealand's intelligence officers are now "fully representative of New Zealand's modern society".
They cover the "full spectrum of diversity in terms of age, ethnic origin, general background and gender mix at all levels of the organisation. This is as it should be," the former Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau said.
But the work-life balance of New Zealand's spies might not be as good as their picture-perfect staffing mix.
Dr Tucker paid tribute to the spouses, partners and families of officers.
He said it was recognised that it was not always easy "not just for those people who work in the Firm, but also for those who live with them".
"There are constraints, pressures, and demands - including sometimes long and unsociable hours, and travel - sometimes at short notice - requiring absences from home."
The SIS party was attended by Prime Minister Helen Clark.
The guest list also included David Irvine of the Australian Security Intelligence Service, Paul O'Sullivan of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Jim Judd of the Canadian SIS, John Scarlett of Britain's MI6, Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller of MI5 and General Michael Hayden from the United States Central Intelligence Agency.
Senior government officials were also present at the event, which was hosted by the Governor-General, Anand Satyanand.
Media did not become aware of the party until after it had taken place.
Notes from the speech Mr O'Sullivan delivered to the official gathering showed that he emphasised the good relationship Australia's intelligence service had with its New Zealand counterpart.
While border security arrangements made it difficult for terrorists to enter island nations such as Australia and New Zealand, Canberra's spy chief said, "we can never be 100 per cent certain of our effectiveness in keeping them out".
