Internet Mana would grant Snowden residency in NZ

The Moment of Truth event held at the Auckland Town Hall. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Internet Mana Party says it would push for the next Government to give NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden safe passage and residency in New Zealand.

While it safe to assume the idea would be dismissed out of hand by a National Government, Labour Leader David Cunliffe is also cool on the idea.

Internet Party founder Kim Dotcom yesterday tweeted his party would push for Snowden to be granted residency in New Zealand and Internet Mana leaders followed that up with a statement saying Snowden had made "enormous personal sacrifice to tell the world about the shocking global surveillance spiderweb that is the Five Eyes network in which New Zealand is an active participant".

"We know that Edward Snowden wants to return home to the United States. However, until his safety there can be guaranteed he should be offered the option of moving to a democratic English-speaking country. That is what we want the new government to enable. We are sure that New Zealanders would want to see him protected while he pursues all his options for returning to the United States."

But Mr Cunliffe tonight said: "I do not believe there is a case for it."

"The case against it is that he is somebody who has arguably acted against the law in a friendly country. The issues that have been raised are important but I do not see New Zealand becoming a domicile for Mr Snowden and I'm being clear and up front about it."

He said Mr Snowden did not need to come to New Zealand "and I'm not going to have something foisted on a coalition government by Kim Dotcom or anyone else."