New Zealand PM Promises To Rein-In Domestic Spying

So, it's not just an American thing?

The Government will make sweeping changes to laws governing spy agency GCSB that are likely to cement its ability to spy on New Zealanders after a report raised legal questions over dozens of operations in the past 10 years.

Yesterday's report by Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Kitteridge found the bureau may have acted unlawfully 88 times since 2003 when it monitored communications of New Zealanders on behalf of the domestic spy agency the Security Intelligence Service and police.

Ms Kitteridge's Government Communications and Security Bureau review was sparked by concerns in the months after the police raid on German internet tycoon Kim Dotcom that the bureau may have been spying illegally on New Zealand citizens and permanent residents such as Mr Dotcom.