Protest at spy dome to pop balloons this time

Protesters in 2008 punctured a cover at the Waihopai satellite station. Photo / Tim Cuff

Protesters plan to target the Waihopai spy base next week for the first time since a group of sickle-wielding peace activists attacked the base on April 30, 2008, deflating one of its domes.

The Prime Minister at the time, Helen Clark, condemned the attack on the base - which is operated by the Government Communications Security Bureau - as a "senseless act of vandalism".

Three men from the Anzac Ploughshares group will stand trial in Wellington on March 8.

The organiser of this month's protest, Murray Horton of the Anti-Bases Campaign, said protesters would "show solidarity" with the group which attacked the base by popping white balloons.

Mr Horton said the spy base was "an outpost of American intelligence" and had cost millions of dollars of public money annually to run for the past 22 years.

"They won't tell us what they do but simply reassure us that they only intercept international communications. But what happens if New Zealand is on one end of the international communication?

"I have no doubt they listen to people making phone calls, especially international ones. Hypothetically they could be listening to us now as well as reading emails I send."

Speaking from Wellington, bureau deputy director corporate Hugh Wolfensohn refused to comment on the nature of the work done at Waihopai.

"Traditionally that is the bureau position, we do not enter into discussions, and I am not in a position to change that policy," he said.

But he said the base was not a big organisation. "Less than 40 people work there."

He would not discuss security arrangements for the planned protest but said the Anti-Bases Campaign had a tradition of peaceful protest.

"We certainly hope there will be no violence or damage to property."

He did not know if protesters would be allowed as far as the main gate to Waihopai, as they were in previous years.

"I don't know if that is possible this year but I am not ruling it out at this stage."

Organisers expect the protest will attract up to 50 people on Saturday, January 23.

There will be a march through central Blenheim and speeches before protesters head to Waihopai.

Speakers will include Mr Horton, Greens MP Keith Locke and John Minto of Global Peace and Justice Auckland.

- NZPA