News

N ew Zealand is in the spotlight after Edward Snowden, former NSA analyst and “whistle-blower”, has revealed a mass of data showing New Zealand’s spying activity in the South Pacific. The data shows that the GCSB (Government Communications Security Bureau) has collected phone calls, emails and social media from the majority of countries in the South Pacific.

In 2009, the GCSB began what the media has labelled a “full take collection” of data from their spying operations. Meaning, they have been collecting all information possible.

Key, however, has dismissed the claims. Although Snowden’s files targeting other countries were confirmed by their governments, Key remains adamant that in New Zealand’s case, the claims are not true.

This has placed New Zealand spying agencies in a grey area legally due to GCSB regulatory laws. The GCSB Amendment Act, passed last year, prevents the GCSB from spying on New Zealand citizens and residents.

The accusations, however, include a collection of information from New Zealand residents living in South Pacific countries.

What comes as a greater shock is that the alleged spying was directed at some of New Zealand’s closest Pacific allies. Tuvalu and Samoa are among the countries reportedly spied on by the GCSB. This has potentially struck a blow against New Zealand’s reputation in the UNSC (United Nations Security Council), which NZ won a non-permanent seat on last year.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, who led the campaign for the UNSC, promoted New Zealand as “[standing up] for small states.” If these allegations are true, McCully’s statement now holds no ground. Furthermore, the accusation highlights the Key government’s commitment to the Five Eyes Partnership, as it has passed the information collected directly to the United States National Security Agency (NSA).

This is certainly a domestic knockback for Key’s political viability as prime minister. But, more importantly, it damages the reputation of New Zealand on an international scale.