21 Nov 2013

Greens say PM needs to disclose any spy deal

1:57 pm on 21 November 2013

The Green Party is calling on the Prime MinIster to tell the public whether he has struck a deal with the United States allowing its National Security Agency to spy on New Zealand citizens.

The Greens' co-leader Russel Norman said the latest leaks from Edward Snowden revealed the United States and Britain reached a deal allowing the National Security Agency (NSA) to analyse and store the personal information of British citizens.

Russel Norman.

Russel Norman. Photo: RNZ

Dr Norman said John Key had to come clean on whether New Zealand had the same deal.

He said a further draft NSA memo from 2005 outlined a proposed procedure for the agency to spy on the citizens of other nations involved in the Five-Eyes intelligence sharing agreement, including New Zealand.

Dr Norman said it was likely the NSA has spied on New Zealand citizens.