Shame!

Written By: - Date published: 7:45 pm, August 21st, 2013 - 136 comments
Categories: accountability, john banks, john key, national, peter dunne, Spying - Tags: , , ,

So the Key-Dunne spying Bill is now law. The privacy of your electronic communications now depends on the favour of an untrustworthy PM, and the best efforts of a legal system (much derided by said PM) in interpreting a confused mess of a law / Hansard record / letter to The Herald. Shame shame shame on all those MPs who ignored the concerns of the people who elected them and passed this travesty.

key-i'm-right-you're-all-wrong

136 comments on “Shame! ”

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  1. karol 1
    21 August 2013 at 7:53 pm

    A sad day.

    NZ democracy, RIP – after a long decline.

    • Linz 1.1
      22 August 2013 at 8:40 am

      Time to turn our attention to the TICS bill without which the GCSB won’t be able to spy on New Zealanders, well, not so efficiently.
      From this article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/8989999/Minister-slams-spy-bill-opposition

      More technical in nature, the TICS Bill would compel telecommunications firms to provide assistance to the GCSB in intercepting and decrypting customer communications and would force them to follow the spy agency’s instructions on network security.

      Appearing in front of the select committee yesterday, Kuipers said …”It is no longer about just tapping into the telephone exchange. Today what we are talking about is a diversity of data connections carrying every imaginable service such as games, banking, education services, entertainment, company and government meetings, shopping, email and documents.
      “Many of these were never subject to interception capability obligations in the pre-digital world. That is a dramatic change in the law.”
      Potentially, the GCSB could use the law change to force any provider of those online services to change their technology or business model, including in ways which might “fundamentally undermine the security of those services”, he said.

  2. mickysavage 2
    21 August 2013 at 8:02 pm

    Yep shame on them.

    Their only justification appears to be that the 2003 legislation was unclear. They have hung their hat on this and tried to suggest that this is all Labour’s fault.

    I have not seen it said before but National voted for this legislation. For proof go to http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/debates/debates/47HansD_20030327_00001169/government-communications-security-bureau-bill-—-third

    This is a perfect example of belligerence and vested interests succeeding over principle.

    • Steve 2.1
      21 August 2013 at 8:36 pm

      The 2003 legislation was pre-Edward Snowdown, which places the context of this bill in a whole different light.

      I guarantee this legislation will be pushed to it’s outer limits and used for domestic poltical purposes. A very sad day for democracy and the NZ identity.

      This crowd of hollow sycophants must exit stage left in 2014. The only positive is that this will have encouraged alot more people to fight to ensure that happens.

      • mickysavage 2.1.1
        21 August 2013 at 8:52 pm

        I guarantee this legislation will be pushed to it’s outer limits and used for domestic poltical purposes.

        As was the 2003 legislation. The GCSB was told in no uncertain terms do not spy on Kiwis. But they have been dancing on the heads of pins trying to justify the spying of kiwis, and they have been ramming this change through so that they can spy on kiwis.

        They are astounding. They should have listened to the voice of the people, Parliament, and not done it. Instead they pushed it as far as they could, they got caught out, and they are now trying to get the law changed so they can do what they were told clearly not to do.

      • Bus Man 2.1.2
        21 August 2013 at 9:20 pm

        To Michael Joseph- A perfect example of Labour-National co-operation when National saw the sense in supporting a common-sense bill which protected New Zealand from potential terrorist activity.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.1.2.1
          22 August 2013 at 6:52 am

          Which makes it all the more shameful that this crap government has forced the new legislation through without bipartisan support.

          Attitudes on the left are hardening: I acknowledge completely the justification for an “intelligence” function within the government, but if it’s a choice between what we have now and nothing at all, nothing at all would be better.

  3. karol 3
    21 August 2013 at 8:02 pm

    BTW, who int he Maori Party abstained from voting for the GCSB Bill tonight? 2 votes against by the Maori Party. The Bill passed by 61 votes to 59.

    • felix 3.1
      21 August 2013 at 8:05 pm

      Heard TeUruroa Flavell speaking strongly against the bill tonight. So probably not him.

      • Jackal 3.1.1
        21 August 2013 at 9:58 pm

        Standing order 142 states that members abstaining are meant to have their abstentions and names recorded by the Clerk. This is meant to published in the Journals of the House.

        Unfortunately the names of those who abstain from voting haven’t been recorded in the journals for some time. However, being that this information is meant to be recorded and published, an OIA request would likely be successful.

        I tend to disagree with you btw felix. I think Te Ururoa Flavell is the prime suspect. Thus far he has ignored my questions on twitter pertaining to who exactly abstained from voting against the GCSB amendment bill.

        • Veutoviper 3.1.1.1
          21 August 2013 at 11:26 pm

          As you say, the rules of the House require abstentions to be recorded and I heard none when the voting was reported. See my comment at 7.3 below re the absence rules for voting and how these frequently lead to the Maori Party having only two votes rather than three.

          Flavell also gave a quite empassioned speech making it very clear that the “Maori Party” was voting against the Bill in the last speeches before the vote (just before the dinner break).

      • CeeH 3.1.2
        22 August 2013 at 1:00 am

        Correct. His exact words were “the maori party would not be supporting this bill”.

    • Skinny 3.2
      21 August 2013 at 10:08 pm

      I told the standard this would happen, a no show was a back up vote for the bill. They need to account for this treacherous act.
      Meanwhile with the passing of the GCSB bill comes the realisation New Zealand is now the newest state of the U.S.A., referred to as Area 51 South Pacific by the yanks I bet!

    • yeshe 3.3
      21 August 2013 at 10:48 pm

      yes karol .. same mystery as last time. shame upon them all.

    • Core_Labour_Voter (Tory troll) 3.4
      21 August 2013 at 11:07 pm

      I think Brendon Horan was kicked out and he didn’t vote???? That should make up the 121 (61+59+1)

      • karol 3.4.1
        22 August 2013 at 7:05 am

        No. Horan’s vote was recorded in the party vote counted – audio heard on the Parliament TV channel as voting was counted. Someone else – a Green MP, I think, stated Horan’s vote.

  4. ianmac 4
    21 August 2013 at 8:03 pm

    Perhaps the passing into law might yet prove a festering sore in National’s hide?

  5. SHG (not Colonial Viper) 5
    21 August 2013 at 8:03 pm

    How was the vote split? Anyone cross the floor?

    • karol 5.1
      21 August 2013 at 8:05 pm

      A Maori MP didn’t even make it to the floor!

    • lprent 5.2
      21 August 2013 at 8:59 pm

      No – strictly on party lines. In exactly the same way that it will be repealed and replaced. This Act has a short lifetime.

      I think that we should have a serious look at killing the GCSB at the same time. Throughout this debate I haven’t heard of *anyone* giving some coherent reasons for the retention of their excessive budget or what return we have or are likely to get from it.

      Not a single person. All you ever get is fear mongering without any detail. Looks to me like it is an arm of the US intelligence community. Time for it to depart for another country and stop distorting our laws.

      • travellerev 5.2.1
        21 August 2013 at 9:04 pm

        God Iprent, You really are so naive sometimes. I know you want met to come with arguments yadiyadyada but not tonight Josephine I’m to angry, too scared and quit frankly over it. But he no conspiracies. No sir , that doesn’t happen here in NZ or anywhere else for that matter. No sir!

        • Jackal 5.2.1.1
          21 August 2013 at 10:09 pm

          WTF are you on about travellerev? I’ve read your comment a couple of times to try and ascertain why you think 1prent is being naive in saying there is no justification for even having the GCSB. While New Zealand has approximately 250,000 children living in poverty, what justification do you have for spending $63 + million dollars on the GCSB each year?

          • travellerev 5.2.1.1.1
            21 August 2013 at 10:22 pm

            If you honestly think New Zealand will be allowed to repeal this law you have got another thing coming. But eh, that would be conspiracy theory and everybody knows you have to be cuckoo to believe our leaders conspire.

            See that is what I mean by naive. You lot believing you are an independent democracy instead of a colony looted by and on behalf of TPTB.

            • Jackal 5.2.1.1.1.1
              21 August 2013 at 10:40 pm

              Labour say they will replace/repeal the law after a review when they become government. The Greens say they will repeal the law outright. It is only a matter of time travellerev.

              It is not naive to think we can create a better democratic system. Defeatist!

              • travellerev …
                22 August 2013 at 7:03 am

                ROFL. Yes it is.

                But then, you still think 19 young Muslims with box cutters can break the laws of nature too.

                Defeatist? I don’t think so but when I see people like you fighting shadows against the wall instead of the real bastards I know it’s going to be an uphill battle.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  22 August 2013 at 8:04 am

                  🙄

                • Frank Macskasy …
                  22 August 2013 at 8:22 pm

                  When I made my oral submission to the Intelligence Select Committee, I ignored Ryall and Banks (Dear Leader was off-planet, tending to his golfing greens on Planet Key), and made my submission directly to Shearer and Norman.

                  I told them that NZ was on a gradual creep to more and more surveillance and that we need to wind back the clock. I suggested using the mid-1970s as a starting point as to whether or not we needed such invasive surveillance in this country.

                  Because otherwise, I submitted, we’ll be going through this entire process again in X years, when the GCSB/Police/SIS/whoever needs yet more surveillance or detention powers.

                  I also pointed out that once upon a time, the State had to demonstrate why they needed such powers. These days, it seems that citizens appear before Select Committees demonstrating why their privacy should not be further eroded.

                  When did we move to a state of affairs when the public has to prove why we want to maintain privacy from State intrusion?

      • Rhinocrates 5.2.2
        21 August 2013 at 9:10 pm

        In exactly the same way that it will be repealed and replaced.

        Well, one certainly hopes. I know Goff from his past record wouldn’t have had any problem with it and I’m hoping that future genuine left government will repeal it instead of simply giving it a lukewarm charade of a “review”.

        • Veutoviper 5.2.2.1
          21 August 2013 at 9:25 pm

          Goff gave a very passionate speech tonight AGAINST the Bill immediately after Finalyson’s disgusting attack on Dame Anne Salmond etc – almost made me wish Goff was still leader!

          http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/20508

          • Colonial Viper 5.2.2.1.1
            21 August 2013 at 9:31 pm

            Goff is far superior to Shearer.

            • muzza 5.2.2.1.1.1
              21 August 2013 at 11:17 pm

              Goff is a traitor also, his words a hollow, and simply a theatrical speech, for effect!

          • infused 5.2.2.1.2
            21 August 2013 at 9:41 pm

            What people say and do is very different. I’ll put $100 on it that Labour does not repeal this.

            • fender 5.2.2.1.2.1
              21 August 2013 at 9:44 pm

              5 of your foils I suppose

            • Pascal's bookie 5.2.2.1.2.3
              22 August 2013 at 5:06 am

              Lol. How’s that war on the Korean peninsula going then, Infused Oracle?

            • Tracey 5.2.2.1.2.4
              22 August 2013 at 8:05 am

              Maybe they will repeal it and put in the provision about explicitly no spying on NZers cyber communications? Remember they won’t be governing alone, the Greens will be there (if they become Govt) and they won’t back down on an issue like this.

              • Mary …
                22 August 2013 at 9:55 am

                Now that it’s been passed Labour needs to say strongly that it will reverse all anti-democratic, anti-constitutional measures this government has introduced, including this bill. This bill being passed may well serve as a means to oust Key and his greedy mates. There needs to be a concerted attack on everything Key’s done so far to undermine democracy and a clear message sent that Labour will fix it. So from this perspective the bill passing may well be a useful thing, but Labour needs to capitalise on this. The only trouble is that this is impossible to do while Shearer is the leader. A further problem is that Labour is either too lazy or too stupid to ensure this happens. Just try to imagine the idiots in Shearer’s office suggesting anything remotely like this. Key could tell everyone to vote Labour at the next election and he’d still get voted back in. That’s how bad Labour’s become under Shearer. Give Cunliffe a go and get the strategy right and Key could be gone. Keep limping along with Shearer and we’re all doomed. Simple.

          • Tazireviper 5.2.2.1.3
            21 August 2013 at 11:35 pm

            +1

      • Anne 5.2.3
        21 August 2013 at 9:20 pm

        Put it this way Iprent. While the GCSB probably played a subservient role to the NSA in particular it was, until tonight, still a New Zealand agency. Now, you might as well say it is owned and run by the NSA which would have been the task Key was charged with achieving when he came into office. Hence the reason for the various quick trips he’s made to America/Hawaii under the guise of private/ holiday trips. And hence the reason for is over the top desperate language because there’s a lot of cred riding on this for him.

        • lprent 5.2.3.1
          21 August 2013 at 9:55 pm

          Yeah that tends to be my view of the history of it as well.

          During the cold war, it wasn’t a bad idea of helping with improving the view of at least one of the sides. After all we really didn’t want the kind of daft accidental brinksmanship that resulted in the cuban missile crisis or even the proxy wars like Yom Kippur.

          However the desperate case for those capabilities is long past. If the only thing that such capabilities can be used for is the surveillance of our citizens and those of our allies. Then the time for expending cash on the GCSB is over. We’d be better off using the cash for extending our physical presence further out into the world with more embassies and trade missions.

      • RJL 5.2.4
        21 August 2013 at 9:34 pm

        I think that we should have a serious look at killing the GCSB at the same time…

        Absolutely.

        It will be a hard task. But at one time declaring NZ nuclear free looked impossible too.

      • karol 5.2.5
        22 August 2013 at 7:07 am

        Lynn, that matches with Nicky Hagar’s speech at the Town Hall on Monday night – he said most of the GCSB work is for foreign entities and has little to do with NZ.

        • travellerev 5.2.5.1
          22 August 2013 at 7:28 am

          I have been in contact with Nicky over the years via email and in the flesh and he is a charming and mild person whom as a human being I really like but I have come to the conclusion that Nicky for all his journalistic acumen is either naive or worse.

          Just like the NSA the GCSB has not been legalized as the ultimate control mechanism. Maybe not straightaway but in the years to come it will be used more and more to spy, control and punish those of us who speak out against the globalist agenda.

          This is from the Wall street journal. Not a publication known for its conspiracy theories.

          From experience I know that if a state has the ability to spy on its citizens it will.

      • Crashcart 5.2.6
        22 August 2013 at 10:35 am

        The only coherent reason I can provide for the GCSB to you is that they provide intelligence support to the Defence Force when operating in high risk environments. This is not perfect but it does contribute to keeping our defence force personnel safe.

        If you want to argue they shouldn’t be harms way in the first place feel free, I am just pointing out a valuble service (in my opinion) that they do provide.

        • lprent 5.2.6.1
          22 August 2013 at 1:27 pm

          That is a reasonable use for them and so are general strategic external threats. For instance if there was a move to block shipping lanes.

          That was the understanding of the basis of the 2003 laws, and why there was what was meant to be a absolute proscription against domestic spying except in emergency situations (eg civil war, disaster etc).

          However they seemed to have moved quite a way from that to where domestic spying against internal ‘enemies’ (ie activists of various types) appears to becoming their primary focus. Since there is effectively no civilian oversight apart from a PM (the current one appears to incompetent at understanding both the legal position and the limits of his powers), I don’t trust the paranoid buggers in the intelligence and security systems not to mistake domestic change activists as being “enemies”.

          It has been bad enough with the paranoid fuckwits of the “specials” in the police abusing their positions with “fishing warrants”. Now we have an legally unquestionable surveillance for the police to cloud evidence under. You only have to look at the legal process of the Operation 8 prosecutions to see how that ability have unquestionable and undiscussable evidence being used to acquire unwarranted convictions.

          That is what is unacceptable.

          Abolish the GCSB and move signals intelligence back under the military who will at least keep it focused on a few narrow tasks. Even with the best PM in place (let alone this lazy and irresponsible fool), I think that the risks to our democracy far outweigh any conceivable damage from the things that they are meant to be “guarding” us from.

  6. freedom 6
    21 August 2013 at 8:04 pm

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WibmcsEGLKo

    lest we forget eh john,
    isn’t that what you always crow when posing in front of the half mast flags?

    you have now contributed directly to the incremental destruction of democracy
    hope the bonus is worth it
    traitor

  7. Anne 7
    21 August 2013 at 8:04 pm

    Yes. The bill passed by two votes. That presumably means someone in the Maori Party abstained. Tariana Turia? I’ll say no more until /unless it is confirmed.

    Now, it is up to the opposition parties to use every opportunity both inside the House and outside to remind the public what this government has just done and, in the process, to treat Key and his lackeys with the contempt they deserve.

    I listened to him on the news tonight and was flabbergasted that he had the temerity to suggest that without this bill the security services cannot do their job and that makes every NZer a terrorist target.(I paraphrase of course). What the hell have the security services been doing for the past 60 years then? Then he had the utter gall to accuse the opposition of scaring the bejesus out of people.

    For Wayne’s benefit I repeat my oft repeated claim. Key’s a liar. Add to that the word traitor. 😉

    • karol 7.1
      21 August 2013 at 8:06 pm

      Yes, Anne. The Maori Party only stated 2 votes against the Bill – someone didn’t vote. Flavell spoke against the Bill. So it was either Pita or Turia who abstained.

      • Anne 7.1.1
        21 August 2013 at 8:15 pm

        I suspect it was Tariana Turia. Still has a crush on Johhny boy then?

        • felix 7.1.1.1
          21 August 2013 at 8:20 pm

          Yep, that’ll be Tariana providing the Nats with a buffer just in case someone crossed the floor.

          Choice eh?

          • Jenny 7.1.1.1.1
            21 August 2013 at 8:28 pm

            More likely Sharples. The last nail in his political coffin.

            • Paul 7.1.1.1.1.1
              21 August 2013 at 8:32 pm

              Is a list provided?

            • muzza 7.1.1.1.1.2
              21 August 2013 at 11:14 pm

              Pita Sharples has previous, when he abstained from the depleted uranium bill…just saying.

              A disgraceful, but not unsurprising day in for the country known as NZ.

              The individual who abstained must be outed, there will be a record somewhere, expect its a matter of time before it’s made public

              • travellerev …
                22 August 2013 at 7:20 am

                I read somewhere that Sharples was absent and couldn’t vote. That’s how he avoided the Uranium vote to. He picked the vote date as THE DAY he had to visit a Tangi!

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2
      21 August 2013 at 8:32 pm

      Yes. The bill passed by two votes.

      Yep, one more step along the way to Key’s Brighter Future police state.

    • Veutoviper 7.3
      21 August 2013 at 8:36 pm

      Anne and Karol @3 above, the most likely reason for the Maori Party recording only 2 votes and not 3 – against the Bill , is because of the absence rules applying to voting in the House.

      I have done a number of posts on these rules and their effects on Maori Party voting over recent months in response to others raising this issue of only 2 MP votes being recorded.

      The most recent was just a few days ago in Open Mike on 14 August.

      http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14082013/#comment-679340

      In that comment or my other one in that thread, there is a link to my earlier comments which provides the full detail of the absence rules and voting in the House including the detailed rules from the Parliament site.

      As mentioned, if one of the Maori Party members wanted to abstain or to vote differently from the other MP members, this would be formally recorded in the vote. Because no abstention or one MP vote for the GCSB Bill was reported/recorded in the overall vote, the most likely reason for 2 votes only would be the absence rules.

      Under the absence rules, probably only one Maori Party member was in the House or within the Parliament precinct (Flavell) at the time of the vote -with Turia and Sharples presumbly absence from the precinct. This means that the MP only get 2 votes – one for the member present and the one absence vote only allowed in the rules.

      A quirk of the rules that appears to affect the Maori Party more than any other current party – and has affected their vote allowance quite frequently.

      • karol 7.3.1
        21 August 2013 at 8:40 pm

        So one Maori Party MP was detained elsewhere, or didn’t care enough to be at parliament for this important vote?

        I noticed Horan still got a vote, even though he’d been booted out of the debating chamber for his protest against not being able to speak because the vote had been called.

        • Veutoviper 7.3.1.1
          21 August 2013 at 9:08 pm

          Saw that too, but he would still have been counted as ‘being within the Parliament precinct” even though not in the House itself.

      • Anne 7.3.2
        21 August 2013 at 9:04 pm

        Thanks veutoviper but even so, you can’t help suspect the convenience of being absent. It would be interesting to know what other controversial/embarrassing for NAct govt. legislation they have conveniently absented themselves from… when it came time for the vote.

        • Veutoviper 7.3.2.1
          21 August 2013 at 9:13 pm

          I wish I had kept a list, Anne. But it was a Bill last year that I first noticed this 2 vote anomaly with the Maori Party – and wondered why. And then noticed it quite frequently. But I only boned up on the absence rules in relation to the GCSB Bill when I noticed they only cast 2 votes on the second reading vote. Hardly ever see Turia and Sharples in the House other than occasionally in Question Time. Flavell is there much more frequently by himself.

  8. Zorr 8
    21 August 2013 at 8:05 pm

    My greatest fear with this bill is that if it makes it through the next electoral cycle without repeal, it will have become entrenched and the anger against it’s existence shall have dissipated to the point that it won’t continue to be an election issue.

    And then we end up playing the waiting game – for the government/leader (of any flavor) to come along and who will use it’s implicit powers to further their own agenda at the expense of our freedom and democracy.

    We have put in to place the legislation to allow the murder of our democracy and to allow for the birth of an autocracy/dictatorship.

    • Rhinocrates 8.1
      21 August 2013 at 9:19 pm

      it will have become entrenched

      I fear that it will be one of the “dead rats to swallow” or just a minor issue, like the fate of Peter Ellis that the Labour troughers like Mumblefuck, Goff, King and Mallard will consider an acceptable and trivial price to pay.

      After all, Clarke’s administration didn’t reverse Richardson’s benefit cuts.

      I don’t think that a future Labour-dominated administration will do anything about Bennett’s without a strong push either, so vote Green to ensure that there is real pressure for change – I disagree with them on a lot of points, but they are both competent in the new media environment and committed to core principles instead of short-term survival (and by “survival” I mean meal tickets at Bellamy’s for the front trough, I mean bench… no, I mean front trough).

    • Rhinocrates 8.2
      21 August 2013 at 9:26 pm

      A shallow slope, but one that is well-greased. As someone with a lot of East European and older German friends, I’m profoundly saddened and frightened by Kiwis’ naiveté.

      Key is New Zealand’s Putin.

      • Murray Olsen 8.2.1
        21 August 2013 at 11:39 pm

        How do you get Putin from Key? Putin is at least a Russian nationalist. Key’s highest ambition is to be a fluffer for the big corporates when they screw us.

        As for repeal of this bill, I think it’s something good that can come from MMP. Labour on their own might find reasons not to repeal, but with Greens and Mana in the mix, they won’t get away with it. I doubt if even Winnie would let them.

        As to whether we can repeal it, I don’t share the defeatism and despair of certain people. The world isn’t changed by watching youtube or cutting and pasting into a blog. It’s changed by committed people who believe in change. Forget nuclear ship visits, we’d be complaining about how women would never get the vote or how the eight hour day was impossible if we followed their lead.

        • Tracey 8.2.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 8:07 am

          Putin is not only a fluffer for their richest men he is one of the fluffers himself.

          • Murray Olsen 8.2.1.1.1
            22 August 2013 at 5:46 pm

            The difference is that Putin serves obscenely rich Russians. Key serves anyone, as long as they are obscenely rich. I don’t like either policy, but it is possible that Putin thinks what he does is good for Russia. Key directly serves American interests. He is a cringing little school prefect, who would not know that challenging those in power is even possible, no matter how reprehensible their demands.

            PS Why am I having to fill in my name and email all the time now?

  9. mickysavage 9
    21 August 2013 at 8:16 pm

    Gawd I just watched Finlayson’s contribution. What a shrill. He chose to criticise Geoffrey Palmer for the fourth Labour Government’s ramming through of the SOE legislation. Fair enough. It was the wrong thing to do and the country has suffered ever since. So why does this justify the repetition of this behaviour?

    And he got stuck into the law society and Rodney Harrison. Pillock. The collective knowledge there is far greater than his meagre abilities.

    And he then got stuck into Dame Anne Salmond. Utterly disgusting behaviour.

    The video is at http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/20507.

    Now is the time for all good lefties to get active to make sure this rabble is removed from office.

    • Paul 9.1
      21 August 2013 at 8:41 pm

      Unbelievable. What a disgrace. The barbarians have taken over.

    • Veutoviper 9.2
      21 August 2013 at 9:05 pm

      It was disgusting behaviour on Finlayson’s part. I hope it gets widely broadcast. and this is our Attorney General?

      His behaviour last night in the final Committee stages was also disgusting childish prima dona stuff .

      He was sitting in the Minister’s chair next to the Committee Chairman and spent a lot of the time with his back turned to the Chair. And then he threw a real hissy fit when Mallard was speaking and storned off to his usual seat.

      (

    • Tim 9.3
      21 August 2013 at 9:14 pm

      I often wonder what’s gotten into CF over the past couple/few years!! There aren’t many words I could think of without being banned to describe his unprincipled, self-serving, holier-than-thou, !@#$%^ attitude since having to serve under master Key.
      Does somebody have something on him or what!

      • Rhinocrates 9.3.1
        21 August 2013 at 9:22 pm

        I wonder what Finlayson, as a devout Christian, must feel in trying to reconcile his conscience with his actions, but then again, those who have made a big deal of their religion have found it easy to act in ways that seem utterly hypocritical, while those who have been quieter in their faith have been truer.

        • emergency mike 9.3.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 2:16 am

          Chris Findalyson is an odd man. Every time I see him speaking he seems like a very cold operator. A very efficient strawman machine.

    • BM 9.4
      21 August 2013 at 9:40 pm

      Wow, he’s a good speaker.
      What a great speech.

    • Tracey 9.5
      22 August 2013 at 8:07 am

      But..but…but the Nats don’t DO the politics of personalities!

  10. Rodel 10
    21 August 2013 at 8:21 pm

    It is now up to Labour, Greens, NZ First, one Maori Party member and anyone else who wants me to bother to vote, to state emphatically that they will repeal this bill.
    Failure to do this and I’ll just stay home election day like a million others did last time.
    There’s no point in casting a vote unless you have something to vote for.

  11. Anne 11
    21 August 2013 at 8:22 pm

    Btw, I saw a letter in yesterday’s Herald from a former Privacy Commissioner, Bruce Slane opposing the GCSB legislation. I’m surprised there’s been no media comment about it – then again no I’m not surprised.

    • mickysavage 11.1
      21 August 2013 at 8:24 pm

      Bruce is a former Law Society President. He is obviously an extremist communist sympathiser whose views should be given no credence at all …

      • Anne 11.1.1
        21 August 2013 at 8:38 pm

        Ahhh I see… former Law Society President. That explains it. Cor…those Reds have got a lot to answer for. Bin causing trouble for years with their high falutin talking… going on and on and nobody knows what they’re on about. Should’ve chucked em into prison and thrown away the key years ago.

        • mickysavage 11.1.1.1
          21 August 2013 at 8:39 pm

          🙂

        • Tim 11.1.1.2
          21 August 2013 at 9:39 pm

          Indeed Anne. Maybe Herr Attorney General could knock those damned “High and Mighty” down a peg or two and show ’em some discipline! (Pot calls Kettle)
          He’s quite obviously been captured by the sense of power he thinks he now wields since becoming Herr General …. or maybe its just that he was always a two-faced bullshitting bastard and expert at double-speak.

    • karol 11.2
      21 August 2013 at 8:25 pm

      Slane’s letter was reproduced by Minto yesterday on the Daily Blog, along with letters from other name people opposed to the Bill.

    • Tracey 11.3
      22 August 2013 at 8:08 am

      Finlayson will attack him today… accuse him of dementia or something.

  12. Paul 12
    21 August 2013 at 8:23 pm

    “When the Nazis came for the communists,
    I did not speak out;
    As I was not a communist.
    When they locked up the social democrats,
    I did not speak out;
    I was not a social democrat.
    When they came for the trade unionists,
    I did not speak out;
    As I was not a trade unionist.
    When they came for the Jews,
    I did not speak out;
    As I was not a Jew.
    When they came for me,
    there was no one left to speak out.”

    61 people just sold democracy in New Zealand.
    Aided and abetted by a corrupt media and commentariat.

    Welcome to Key’s Brave New World.

    • karol 12.1
      21 August 2013 at 8:26 pm

      61 people just sold democracy in New Zealand.
      Aided and abetted by a corrupt media and commentariat.

      61, plus one Maori Party MP.

    • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 12.2
      21 August 2013 at 10:48 pm

      “When the Nazis came for the communists,
      blah blah blah”

      Let me guess – you live in NZ and have no plans to leave, right?

  13. Jenny 13
    21 August 2013 at 8:36 pm

    The Key-Dunne spying Bill. Will, from now on, be known as the Dunne-Key Law.

    At least until it is repealed at the first opportunity.

    So watch it all you GCSB spooks and hold off on your plans to track our metadata, and continue your legal/illegal spying, you may be held to account for it after all.

  14. Penny Bright 14
    21 August 2013 at 8:50 pm

    FYI

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    21 August 2013

    Prime Minister of New Zealand
    John Key,

    Dear Prime Minister,

    Attached are the signatures of nearly 400 people who have signed the following petition:

    “To the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key:
    _____________________________________________________________________________

    “The will of the people is the basis of the authority of Government.”

    We, the undersigned, call upon YOU, to defend the lawful human rights of New Zealanders to privacy, freedom of association and freedom of expression – that is – to oppose arbitrary search and surveillance by ‘BIG BROTHER’ State over citizens.

    If YOU, as Prime Minister, vote for this GCSB Bill, which will allow widespread spying on New Zealanders, we, the undersigned hereby PLEDGE to campaign for the public NOT to ‘Party vote National’ in the 2014 election, and to encourage our families, neighbours and workmates to do the same. ”
    ______________________________________________________________________________

    May I respectfully suggest that your, in my considered opinion, apparently cavalier and contemptuous ‘Wall Street’ ways, are no way to treat the people of New Zealand?

    Please, do NOT underestimate the growing concern of citizens of New Zealand, to the legislative undermining of our lawful rights to privacy, and against arbitrary search and surveillance.

    The GCSB has not yet ‘got it’s house in order’, yet you want to give them even more powers?

    The Kitteridge Report came up with 80 recommendations, of which 76 the GCSB is directly responsible for implementing.

    So far, according to GCSB Director Ian Fletcher, the GCSB has only implemented 25 out of these 76 recommendations.

    ______________________________________________________________________________

    http://www.gcsb.govt.nz/newsroom/reports-publications/Compliance%20Review%20Progress%20Report%201.pdf

    “Of the 80 recommendations, there are 76 that the GCSB is directly responsible for implementing, and there are others, such as legislation, for which others are responsible.

    One of our greatest challenges has been finding staff with expertise in the areas we need with appropriate security clearances. Nonetheless, we have made real progress, which means we will have even greater resource to implement the recommendations.

    The first tranche of recommendations that we have implemented focuses on the things that we need to have in place immediately to function more effectively: getting new processes and systems bedded in to be business as usual, and making appointments to key roles including the Associate Director, a Chief of Staff, a Chief Legal Adviser, and a Compliance and Policy Manager.

    A total of 25 recommendations have been completed. We are on track to have another 11 recommendations implemented in the next quarter.

    Some of the recommendations will take well into 2014 to implement, as they involve longer term programmes including staff rotation, external secondments and performance management practices. ”
    ______________________________________________________________________________

    The Privacy Commission are actively investigating my complaint (and others), regarding the unlawful spying upon 88 New Zealanders, but this process is not yet complete.

    http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/GCSB-Privacy-Comm-Update-Letter-30_7_13.pdf

    Why are you not doing things in a proper way?

    Where’s the fire?

    What’s the rush?

    Where and what is the ‘real and present threat’ to the security of New Zealanders, that warrants this railroading over our lawful human rights and civil liberties, with the slimmest of Parliamentary majorities?

    How is this a right and proper way to run our country?

    Can your word, as the Prime Minister of New Zealand, be trusted?

    In my considered opinion, no, it cannot.

    I state this, as someone who, in 2008, took a private prosecution against you, over TranzRail.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFTYZVQo-A8

    In February 2011, I asked you to your face, at a Grey Power public meeting, if you were personally profiting from New Zealand’s growing indebtedness, given your shareholding in the Bank of America.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXwNoaOpDMw

    On 2 July 2013, I raised my concerns about the GCSB directly with you, in your capacity as Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQgLJixhB4A

    (FYI – I am sending this email directly to the Programme Manager of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review responsible for New Zealand, so that it can be considered, as part thereof.)

    Kind regards,

    Penny Bright

    ‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation’ campaigner

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

  15. Tigger 15
    21 August 2013 at 9:04 pm

    Democracy not just under attack, but stabbed in the head. 61 times.

    Some superb tweets blasting Key and his kin, though. Stirring stuff. Gives me hope.

  16. blue leopard 16
    21 August 2013 at 9:34 pm

    So because of some very belligerent, emotionally challenged creatures with rigormortis-like intellects who can be found somewhere across the other side of the world–creatures who consistently choose to break international rules/conventions and decent behaviour and go aggressively attacking and or/ mucking up other countries (either covert or overt) and do so ostensibly to spread democracy (choke) and by doing so creating a state of increasing insecurity world-wide.

    …That because of these crusty-belligerent creatures, “fighting for democracy” (choke) my country forgoes important democratic principles and processes, just so that we can get paid money from The Crusties in order to ‘protect’ ‘American’ interests (more like big money) from the insecurity The Crusties have created from their belligerent, rigid attitudes from the outset? Is this correct? Am I understanding this clearly??

    Gees they must be having a grand old laugh at us tonight.

    Going to hell in a handbasket, thats what our world will continue to do while we keep listening to The Crusties’ horrific narratives.

  17. paul andersen 17
    21 August 2013 at 9:36 pm

    the next person on this site who quotes the “nothing to hide ,nothing to fear” line, while hiding behind a nom-de plume. should be permanantley banned.

    [lprent: For obvious reasons to do with the widespread distribution of the disease, being an idiot isn’t a bannable offense. After all in my opinion, I’m the *only* person who is right, but I have to put up with your opinion anyway. 😈

    But you should also read our policy. The site isn’t a democracy, it is an anarchical cooperative where those who work on it get the privilege of being listened to by the others who work on it. Our toleration for other people telling us what to do tends to be quite limited. We welcome people suggesting (in carefully appropriate terms) ways that we could improve parts of the site. However we also tend to be abrupt (curmudgeon’s can already suck eggs) when we get told directly or even indirectly *what* we should do.

    Be careful how you phrase such exhortations. Bear in mind the reactions of the moderators. It is your ability to write comments that is always on the line…. ]

  18. infused 18
    21 August 2013 at 9:39 pm

    I have rolls of tinfoil available for purchase at a very cheap price. Let me know how much you require!

    • fender 18.1
      21 August 2013 at 9:42 pm

      The GCSB are on to you and your foils, dropkick. Expect a visit.

    • felix 18.2
      21 August 2013 at 10:49 pm

      That used to be kind of a funny thing to say, infused.

      But now that everyone knows that Facebook and Google are actually cooperating with the governments of the world to track your every movement and record everything you do, it just seems weird.

      It’s a bit flat-earth of you really mate.

      • infused 18.2.1
        21 August 2013 at 11:37 pm

        lol. Facebook already knows your shit, so does google. Your phones gps. It’s been like this for ages. That photo you took, contains so much data, including your location. When uploaded to google/facebook/whatever, they take that data.

        Have you read Facebooks TOS?

        If you are this paranoid, you need to stop using the internet.

  19. Nicolas 19
    21 August 2013 at 9:42 pm

    Honestly, I think opposition to the bill has been largely manifested in a less-than-effective way.

    Sure, you’ll find the brilliant Dr. Harrison, amongst other specialists, referring to the nuts and bolts of the Bill, and I also found David Parker’s contribution to the debate, a few days back, pretty good.

    However, many (like Shearer) have NOT really faced the Nats like they should. Key, Ryall, Finlayson… They all deny the basic premise that this is an expansion of the powers of the GCSB. Rarely will you find people within National actively supporting the creation of a surveillance state; the Nats have been vigorously denying this is what’s happening through the Bill.

    So, while there is a fucking valid argument that this Bill represents a violation of our rights, in order to really put the Nats against a corner, I think MPs should have more frequently referred to how this Bill does, indeed, represent an unjustified expansion of the powers of our spying agency. Then, after establishing this, there isn’t much else the Nats can say, unless they come out supporting mass surveillance, publicly (which I’m pretty sure some of them do, but behind closed doors). That’s when talk of democratic principles being shat upon is more appropriate.

    To be honest, after seeing Shearer’s speech today, it did seem like he hasn’t read the Bill very much, and has solely relied on what others told him. I have a horrible feeling (hope I’m wrong) that if one was to ask Shearer to explain how the Bill represents an expansion of the GCSB’s powers, with specific reference to the Bill, he would simply not be able to do it. Certainly, not convincingly. And a lot of people need some serious convincing before they start opposing Key and friends…

    In other words, it is not enough to simply cross-reference to the Law Commission’s great report. MPs should show they know what the fuck they’re talking about, or else it may look like they’re simply trying to score points (like Dotcom did during the select committee hearing, where he made no reference to anything specific within the Bill), looking pretty ignorant in the process.

    • Rhinocrates 19.1
      21 August 2013 at 9:48 pm

      To be honest, after seeing Shearer’s speech today, it did seem like he hasn’t read the Bill very much, and has solely relied on what others told him. I have a horrible feeling (hope I’m wrong) that if one was to ask Shearer to explain how the Bill represents an expansion of the GCSB’s powers, with specific reference to the Bill, he would simply not be able to do it. Certainly, not convincingly. And a lot of people need some serious convincing before they start opposing Key and friends…

      This is a perfect storm – we have the worst, rapacious capitalist crony government in place and the weakest, most acquiescent troughers in supposed opposition who have no idea what they stand for except their own privileges and who think that their real enemies are – as that yuppie snot Hipkins said – their own party.

      Jesus wept.

      • Rhinocrates 19.1.1
        21 August 2013 at 10:00 pm

        has solely relied on what others told him

        That’s my impression of Mumblefuck. “Nice guy, but…” excuses are bullshit – he’s the Pointy-Haired Boss. Thick as pigshit, uninterested in anything but his own position, dependent on his cronies, suspicious of anyone with talent and so he surrounds himself with sycophants and they compound his mistakes, not correct them. He exiles those who do well, because he jealously thinks talent is subversion.

        He’s a typical bureaucrat – quite secure in a stable, closed environment, but utterly unsuited for democratic politics.

        He’s a liability – get rid of him, put him in a subordinate position perhaps, but never, ever let people like him run the show or be a puppet for the troughers.

        We need a real leader, not an idol, but someone who can weld a team together and fight for US. All Shearer does is try to cement his own position and those of his cronies.

      • weka 19.1.2
        21 August 2013 at 10:15 pm

        This is a perfect storm – we have the worst, rapacious capitalist crony government in place and the weakest, most acquiescent troughers in supposed opposition who have no idea what they stand for except their own privileges and who think that their real enemies are – as that yuppie snot Hipkins said – their own party.

        Am feeling especially grateful to the GP right now, particularly all the hard graft they’ve put in over the years to make sure they are in a position now to have a voice that can be heard. Does this make them the shelter in the storm?

    • karol 19.2
      22 August 2013 at 7:21 am

      Nicolas (@9.42pm) the opposition have made the point that the Bill legitimises an expansion in the powers of the GCSB. I think maybe the MSM and public pick up more on the breach of privacy issue – it more obviously and immediately effects them.

      The main section re-expansion is Section 8C – the GCSB’s role in cybersecurity.

      The other issue they have picked up on is poor oversight. Expansion of powers, cybersecurity, poor oversight (in the hands of the PM), accessing all metadata form within NZ & capacity to access content of all communications – all parts of the same whole.

      Also, some of the opposition speakers in the House have focused on the content of specific sections of the Bill. But the problems are complex (as I indicated in my post yesterday). And most of the public will be lost in the labyrinthine explanation.

      • Nicolas 19.2.1
        22 August 2013 at 8:28 am

        Karol, I totally understand this is a complex bill. I’m not gonna lie; it took me a while to come to grips with it (and I’m still no bloody expert on it), after looking at the current Act, the proposed amendment, the Law Society’s submission, the departmental report answering the LS and other submissions… It’s definitely not easy to stomach.

        Still, after watching the debates for the past few weeks, I still feel many MPs focused too much on the underpinning democratic values of our society, instead of how exactly this bill represents a threat to these values. That’s the reason why a lot of people still trust Key; because they believe him when he says no fundamental rights will be infringed upon thanks to this bill.

        I just feel a bit less rhetoric and more details (for instance, MPs could have challenged, “line by line”, the departmental report Key referred to this morning, on RNZ) could have gone a long way in clarifying to people why this soon-to-be-legislation bill is so toxic.

  20. Rhinocrates 20
    21 August 2013 at 9:44 pm

    The worst thing about dictatorships is that they have always been welcomed by many. That is profoundly devastating to one’s faith in human nature.

  21. James 21
    21 August 2013 at 10:20 pm

    You seem to forget that this is indeed how democracy works. The government who is voted in and parties in mmp make the laws that they think are right.

    The majority of government voted to pass this.

    People saying it is a sad day for democracy are missing or ignoring the fact that their legitimate government passed this.

    Sorry I know a lot of you don’t like this act but tough really. If labour get in and have the votes to change it then they can democratically also.

    • blue leopard 21.1
      21 August 2013 at 10:33 pm

      @ James,

      Perhaps you haven’t been following the recent dialogue here and elsewhere on the subject.

      It has been stated that it is useful and good practice for governments to work across the house on legislation like this; not scrape by with the least numbers that is possible.

      If the National government had made any effort at all to achieve this ‘working together’ with all main parties; it is likely that the Bill would have come out in a shape that would suit a huge majority of NZers, unlike what we have now, where huge numbers do not trust what this Bill consists of, nor its implications.

      This government has once again has shown poor practice.

      • Anne 21.1.1
        21 August 2013 at 10:45 pm

        It has been stated that it is useful and good practice for governments to work across the house on legislation like this;

        Actually it’s more than that blue leopoard. My understanding is that intelligence and security matters were always handled on a bi-partisan basis. That is, the major parties were/are kept informed of developments etc. and their views sought and taken into consideration by the PM of the day. That is why David Shearer requested a meeting with Key. He was essentially following mutually agreed practice. It’s John Key who has broken all convention and – like Muldoon – he’s going to pay a very big price in the end.

        • blue leopard 21.1.1.1
          21 August 2013 at 11:27 pm

          @ Anne
          I was being careful with my wording because I am not an expert on these things and would rather err on the side of caution. Thanks for clarifying 🙂

        • James 21.1.1.2
          22 August 2013 at 8:42 am

          So if Labour, Greens, Mana, NZ FIrst had a single seat majority and were voting in something you didnt like would you be squalking “un democratic:?

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 21.1.1.2.1
            22 August 2013 at 8:48 am

            Not “something”, suck-up boy. Legislation that affects national security makes a poor political football. You think this is an issue that requires partisan treatment? What the fuck is wrong with you? Do you have shit for brains?

    • karol 21.2
      22 August 2013 at 7:23 am

      James, you obviously didn’t hear Russel Norman’s speech (yesterday, I think), when he explained that democracy is more than just voting for a government every few years.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 21.3
      22 August 2013 at 8:46 am

      James, you sycophantic authority-worshipping subhuman, get off your knees.

  22. Dan1 22
    21 August 2013 at 10:26 pm

    It was Marilyn Waring and fellow Waikato MP Mike Minogue who stuck to their principles and eventually precipitated the election that dumped Muldoon. I have a feeling the arrogance and the mindless putdowns of people who have clear and reasonable concerns may be the tipping point for this administration’s deserved demise.

  23. Veutoviper 23
    21 August 2013 at 10:58 pm

    My anger is cooling marginally, and a few old sayings, songs etc have crossed my mind such as that old song about “pick yourself up and start all over again” and something about “live to fight another day”.

    Which led me to think about the fact that the GCSB Bill (or rather now the three amendment Acts it has now become) has a companion Bill still going through the Parliamentary stages – the Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) Bill.

    This TICS Bill is way above my knowledge levels of its highly technical provisions and I wonder how much effect it will have if it passes in terms of its connection to the GCSB Bill provisions – AND how much effect it will have if this Bill is not passed.

    While this Bill was introduced to the House IIRC about the same time as the GCSB Bill, Key and co have been quite discrete in keeping the two Bills apart.

    The TICS Bill has a different timeline to the GCSB . Although it is going through Select Committee stages at present, report back is not due until 20 September, meaning that it will not go through second reading, Committee stages etc until Oct/Nov.

    So – lets not give up the fight yet, people.

  24. Whatever next 24
    21 August 2013 at 11:00 pm

    Veutoviper, it was very hard not to stand up and cheer after Goff’s speach, and having to tolerate Finlayson’s poncing around throughout was difficult.don’t know how opposition parties can sit and watch the obsequious acquiescence of the Nats fawning over their great leader, lets hope they crawl under stones next year when they are shown it is them who are out of touch, not Labour and Greens

    • Veutoviper 24.1
      21 August 2013 at 11:15 pm

      Agreed, Whatever next. Unfortunately, I cannot see the current bunch of Nats crawling under stones – they are just so arrogant and ignorant and living in their own little out of touch world and dreaming of Planet Key!

    • karol 24.2
      22 August 2013 at 7:27 am

      Goff made the point that on the GCSB committee, over which the PM has oversight, Key largely seems disinterested in goings on (Goff has also sat at that committee). Goff said key shows little vigilance in his powerful oversight tole.

  25. yeshe 25
    22 August 2013 at 12:36 am

    Behold the ignominy of our name involved with this mess; just in case the slightest doubt remains about the true meaning of this vote:

    NSA still doesn’t know what Snowden took with him :

    “Sources said authorities believe the trove of unreleased materials includes details of data collection by U.S. allies, including the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These English-speaking allies, known along with the U.S. as the “Five Eyes,” are CRITICAL to U.S. intelligence efforts.” ( my caps)

    http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/20/20108770-us-doesnt-know-what-snowden-took-sources-say?lite

    • yeshe 25.1
      22 August 2013 at 12:47 am

      (I know what we can do … let’s get Kim Dotcom to ask him !!! and I wonder if Snowden knows what NSA pays us or if not, can he confirm that they do ?? )

    • yeshe 25.2
      22 August 2013 at 12:52 am

      Have to post this comment from under the NBC story:

      BREAKING NEWS!!!!….

      WASHINGTON– According to high ranking government sources, today it was reported that the NSA doesn’t know its ass from its elbow. Details to follow.

  26. xtasy 26
    22 August 2013 at 5:12 am

    Hey Rob –

    I am damned furious like you, also disappointed, but it was to be expected. Hence Hone Harawira made this clear, same as Nicky Hager at the meeting at the Auckland Town Hall. Hone raised issues of us beneficiaries and Maori and Pacifica, and I agreed. Nicky said the bill would be passed and we should focus on future measures to fight for privacy and so forth.

    I have yet another message. We are as beneficiaries, and I am one, persecuted like shit now, and I am getting pretty angry and even furious about this. Most, if not all of us, did not choose to live of a crap benefit, but we get harassed, shamed and treated like crap daily, by WINZ and even neighbours. I came across this tonight, and it should be spread, as it tells some truth. Perhaps you can see to it:

    http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15264-welfare-reform-the-health-and-disability-panel-msd-the-truth-behind-the-agenda/

  27. chris73 27
    22 August 2013 at 7:32 am

    look at the bright side:

    its passed so labour can move on and try to find something else that might ackshully resonate with the NZ public at large

    this whole thing will turn out to be nothing, nob ody will notice anything different and it’ll be no different to how things have gone the last few years

    its democracy at its finest, the govt of the day had the votes to pass the bill and when labour regain power in 2017 they can change the law if they get enough votes (they wont though because it simply wont be worth the hassle)

    so cheer up its not all bad 🙂

  28. tracey 28
    22 August 2013 at 7:34 am

    Finlayson owes an outstanding new zealander an apology. One he needs to do face to face and on live television.

    dont forget a specialist in trademark copright and patent law now heads the gcsb. So when key said companies applying for warrants he meant it. This is as much about protecting and strengthening certain brands as well as the nsa stuff

  29. tracey 29
    22 August 2013 at 7:43 am

    Dont hold your breath about keys judgment on your metadata… see his comment below his hypocritical ministers

    Justice Minister Judith Collins: “I found it was quite chilling to realise that ministers and staff’s emails and the right to privacy was treated with what I would say was frankly a contemptuous attitude.”Police Minister Anne Tolley: ‘did it never occur to you… that you should perhaps seek some guidance from the Speaker… around some of these more delicate issues that impinge on the privacy of ministers of the Crown, their staff and Members of Parliament?Prime Minister John Key: Key: “We put out public terms of reference it was up to any minister to come and complain if they wanted to but let’s be honest… it was the most basic level of intrusion saying we’re going to look at the metadata to try and determine if the person’s of any interest or not. If you can’t meet that level well you wouldn’t make it as a minister.”

  30. Sable 30
    22 August 2013 at 8:42 am

    Welcome to the new age of totalitarianism in New Zealand compliments of National, ACT and Dunne.
    The question is will Labour if they are elected put the genie back in the bottle? Personally I have my doubts.