Clark defends work of security bureau

Warren Tucker says David Lange knew the extent of NZ's electronic spy network. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Helen Clark says spymaster Warren Tucker has been "driven to despair" over allegations about the Government Communications Security Bureau, which he heads, and she supports his decision to write a newspaper article in defence of it.

The PM endorses Dr Tucker's unprecedented actions in writing the article, which also emphatically denies the claim by former Prime Minister David Lange that the bureau misled him while he was in office (1984-89) about the extent of its activities.

"Any suggestion that Mr Lange was unaware of what the GCSB was doing while he was Prime Minister ... is simply wrong."

Dr Tucker's article was written in the wake of publicity over the inadvertent release to the Sunday Star-Times of a secret bureau file among the archival personal papers of Mr Lange, who died last year.

Helen Clark believes the file - about which countries New Zealand was spying on - is evidence that Mr Lange was well briefed.

"Clearly there was information in the file which gave quite a lot of information about the GCSB," Helen Clark said at a post-Cabinet press conference yesterday.

She also said she would say "without equivocation" that "there is nothing that the GCSB keeps from their minister".

"I would say with certainty it was the case when David Lange had immediately preceded Geoffrey [Palmer] as Prime Minister."

Helen Clark said the article was Dr Tucker's initiative and she had supported it when he told her about it last week.

"He took the initiative because frankly he is driven to despair by a lot of the allegations which are quite carelessly made about the GCSB.

"Warren Tucker ... is a long-standing public servant. He is utterly loyal to New Zealand. His agency is loyal to New Zealand. It acts in New Zealand's interests, and he felt that he should put that on the record given that there has been another round of publicity in the wake of the access to the Lange archive."

In the article, Dr Tucker challenged claims that New Zealand was a lackey of the United States and that Mr Lange was kept in the dark.

The country benefited from its role in the Echelon communications interception network, which also includes the US, Australia, Britain and Australia.

The partnership gave "a direct line into the inner circles of power in London and Washington", he said.

After leaving Parliament, Mr Lange claimed in the Nicky Hager book Secret Power not to have known the extent of New Zealand's involvement in an international integrated electronic spy network, but Dr Tucker said that was not the case. The bureau director, Colin Hanson, had worked hard to ensure that Mr Lange was briefed frequently, carefully and comprehensively, Dr Tucker said.

Dr Tucker also defended the agency against the claims of its critics that the organisation was a "lackey of US or UK puppet masters".

"I am aware of no circumstance where the GCSB has put its own interests ... ahead of those of New Zealand," he wrote.

Green MP Keith Locke said that if Dr Tucker was so clear about the exact benefits, then he should share them with all New Zealanders.

"I'd challenge him to make them public, because I think if you weighed it all up, you'd find there are more negatives than benefits," he told NZPA.

* To read Dr Tucker's article use the link below.


Focus on foreign intelligence

* What is the GCSB?

The Government Communications Security Bureau was formed in 1977. Its role is to collect secret foreign intelligence through intercepting and analysing foreign information deemed of importance to New Zealand. It is also charged with ensuring that New Zealand's governmental communications systems are protected.

* Where does it operate?

The GCSB is based in a high-rise in Aitken St, Wellington. It employs about 300 staff with expertise including foreign languages, communications and cryptography as well as engineers, technicians and other support staff. It has a budget of about $30 million.

* How is it different from the Security Intelligence Service?

The SIS is focused on threats to New Zealand from within New Zealand. The GCSB is focused externally.

* Who watches the watchers?

The agencies report to the Prime Minister. The Inspector-General of Intelligence, a retired High Court judge, has independent oversight of the GCSB and the SIS.

They also report confidentially to the security and intelligence select committee that includes the Leader of the Opposition.