As of 1 Jul 2008, the Joint Geospatial Support Facility was renamed the NZDF Geospatial Intelligence Organisation (GIO) and command was transferred from Chief of Navy to HQNZDF (AC SCI).
The primary military role of GIO is to provide geospatial intelligence and geospatial information products to support NZDF military operations, exercises and other activities in the delivery of outputs; and by agreement, to Government and other approved customers in order to support defence policy objectives.
Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) is defined as intelligence derived from the exploitation and analysis of integrated imagery and geospatial information about features and activities of defence, security or foreign intelligence interest, viewed in the context of location and time.
To ensure data integrity and to avoid unnecessary duplication, DGIO is the principal data acquisition authority for geospatial data for the NZDF and currently maintains a central Geospatial database for NZDF use. Further customisation of Geospatial data to meet the detailed needs of commanders and intelligence staff is undertaken by unit Geospatial Staff.
Hydrographic Operations, the NZDF’s central provider of maps and charts, digital databases and feature foundation data, which undertakes commercial hydrographic services on behalf of the RNZN, will remain under the command of Chief of Navy.