(1) The Bureau has the following functions:
(a) to gather foreign intelligence, in accordance with the foreign intelligence requirements of the Government of New Zealand,—
(i) by intercepting communications under the authority of this Act; or
(ii) by co-operating with public authorities or other entities in New Zealand and abroad; or
(iii) by collecting information in any other lawful manner:
(b) to decipher, decode, and translate foreign communications:
(c) to examine and analyse foreign communications and foreign intelligence:
(d) to provide reports on foreign intelligence to the Minister and any person or office holder, whether in New Zealand or abroad, authorised by the Minister:
(e) to co-operate with, or to provide advice and assistance to, any public authority or other entity, in New Zealand or abroad,—
(i) on the protection of information that the public authority or other entity produces, sends, receives, or holds in any medium; or
(ii) on any matter that is relevant—
(A) to the functions of the public authority or other entity; and
(B) to any purpose specified in subsection (2).
(2) The Bureau may perform its functions only for the following purposes:
(a) to pursue its objective:
(b) to protect the safety of any person:
(c) in support of the prevention or detection of serious crime.
(3) The performance of the Bureau’s functions is subject to the control of the Minister.