16 Mar 2015

Solomon Islands targets of alleged NZ spying named

12:45 pm on 16 March 2015

The latest release from the investigative journalist Nicky Hager alleges New Zealand has being spying on named senior public servants and a leading anti-corruption campaigner in Solomon Islands.

The New Zealand Herald reports New Zealand programmed internet mass surveillance systems to capture communication of specific named individuals.

The allegations stem from a previously secret document dated January 2013 when Gordon Darcy Lilo was Solomon Islands' Prime Minister.

Targets are said to include a Foreign Affairs official, Fiona Indu, one of the former Prime Minister's secretaries, Robert Iroga, and a Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Dr Philip Tagini.

In addition the Hager revelations claim New Zealand spies also monitored emails to and from the anti corruption campaigner Benjamin Afuga, who publishes leaked information and whistleblows, under his organisation called Forum Solomon Islands International, based in Honiara.