30 Oct 2013

Key confident he hasn't been spied on by US

6:07 am on 30 October 2013

New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says he is confident that he has not been spied upon by the United States.

It has been revealed that the American National Security Agency (NSA) has been bugging German Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone.

Prime Minister John Key.

Prime Minister John Key. Photo: RNZ

In recent days Germany, Spain and France have also discovered that millions of their citizens' phones have been monitored and a parliamentary delegation from the European Union is in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

Mr Key on Tuesday would not be drawn on any of New Zealand's involvement any sharing of intelligence.

"Well, I don't have all of the details and I haven't bothered to ask those particular questions. But I'm comfortable that any activities that the GCSB (Government Communications Security Bureau) have undertaken have been lawful."

Labour wants assurance from US

Labour Party leader David Cunliffe is urging the Government to seek an assurance from the US that it has not spied on New Zealand political leaders.

David Cunliffe.

David Cunliffe. Photo: RNZ

Mr Cunliffe says in the wake of revelations that the National Security Agency (NSA) spied on the German Chancellor, as well as other European leaders, the Government should ask whether the same has happened in New Zealand.

However, during his visit to the Pentagon for discussions with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, New Zealand's Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said he is unconcerned about further revelations.

"New Zealand's not worried at all about this. We don't believe it would be occurring and quite frankly there would be nothing any one could hear in our private conversations that we wouldn't be prepared to share publicly."

He says the Government has high trust in its relationship with the US.

Mr Cunliffe says the Government should also give an assurance it has not used information on New Zealanders which has been gathered by one of its spy allies, the US, Britain, Australia or Canada.

He says allowing such a thing to happen is one of the loopholes in the spy legislation passed by the Government this year.

A Labour-led government, he says, would repeal that law and replace it with one which protected civil liberties.