Prime Minister John Key has announced legislation that will also let the Government Communications Security Bureau spy on New Zealanders' private information. New Zealanders will be targeted only to protect national security or where they are an agent of a foreign power. A "Type 1" intelligence warrant would be needed to target New Zealanders using otherwise unlawful activities, such as intercepting phone calls. Labour leader Andrew Little said the definition of national security was too broad and "must be narrowed down to actual threats to security and government". Under the legislation, intelligence agencies would have direct access to other Government database information including birth, death, marriage, name change, citizenship, immigration and Customs information.

Source: New Zealand Herald August 15, 2016 04:30 UTC