New Zealand has lost some of its independence within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and been "drawn in a lot closer" to the US-led spy network, former prime minister Helen Clark says.
Her comments come in the RNZ podcast The Service where former prime ministers and intelligence chiefs reveal the workings of 'the club' of intelligence partners: the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Among them is former GCSB boss Sir Bruce Ferguson, who says any country outside the Five Eyes is fair game for spying and New Zealand should jealously safeguard its position in the club.
RNZ investigative journalist Guyon Espiner teamed up with Wellington writer and documentary maker John Daniell to produce the podcast.
Guyon Espiner has the story.
