NZ Passes Law Easing Domestic Surveillance

Interesting response to a local spying scandal

The bungled Kim Dotcom raid might have highlighted illegal domestic surveillance. But despite the giant German's public campaigning it has, ironically, led to a tightening of our spy laws.

The GCSB Bill, including a provision for the Government Communications Security Bureau to assist domestic agencies with surveillance on New Zealanders, passed into law last night.

The 61-59 vote was along expected lines, with National plus ACT's John Banks and United Future's Peter Dunne supporting the legislation.

Green Party leader Russel Norman immediately pledged that a Greens-Labour government would repeal the legislation should it win power next year.