New Zealand Government About To Legalize Spying On NZ Citizens

[The Straight Story]

"After admitting they have illegally spied on NZ citizens or residents 88 times (PDF) since 2003, the government, in a stunning example of arse covering, is about to grant the GCSB the right to intercept the communications of New Zealanders in its role as the national cyber security agency, rather than examine the role the GCSB should play and then look at the laws. There has been strong criticism from many avenues. The bill is being opposed by Labor and the Greens, but it looks like National now have the numbers to get this passed. Of course, the front page story is all about the royal baby, with this huge erosion of privacy relegated to a small article near the bottom of the front page. Three cheers, the monarchy is secure, never mind the rights of the people. More bread and circuses anyone?"

http://classic.slashdot.org/story/13/07/22/239250

GCSB bill has numbers to pass after Dunne wins changes

The controversial GCSB bill has the numbers to pass in Parliament after United Future leader Peter Dunne secured some significant changes to it for the price of his support.

New Zealand's domestic spy agency, the SIS, and its foreign spy agency, the GCSB, will be the subject of an independent review in 2015 and an automatic review every five to seven years after that.

But Labour and New Zealand First, who wanted a more immediate review, last night remained adamant that they would oppose the bill, and it will pass with a majority of just one.

The Greens called the changes cosmetic and will also oppose it.

Other announced changes yesterday will require the GCSB to be more transparent about the number of warrants and access authorisations it gets each year, with an annual public declaration.

Every time it gets permission to spy on a New Zealander, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security will have to be told. And the GCSB will be required to declare the number of times it helps the Police, the SIS or Defence Force with its specialised interception equipment.

If the Government wants to expand the domestic agencies that the GCSB will be able to help, it will have to get the support of Parliament for another amendment bill, rather than Cabinet just ticking it off via regulation.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10901674