Photo: ODT filesPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern is playing down any suggestion a surveillance programme known as Project Speargun could have helped prevent the Christchurch terror attacks. National leader Simon Bridges yesterday said Project Speargun should be reconsidered following the 15 March mosque shootings which left 50 people dead. Speaking at her weekly media conference, Ms Ardern queried any "assumption" that the programme could have increased "knowledge" of the massacre ahead of time. "New Zealand is not a surveillance state - and that's been a very clear directive, I think, from members of the public," Ms Ardern said. Mr Bridges said Ms Ardern was "fudging and dodging" questions about New Zealand's surveillance laws.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 25, 2019 16:41 UTC