Rebecca Kitteridge acknowledged a mistrust of intelligence agencies by many people, and said suspicion was natural given that, "we do everything behind closed doors".

The inquiry would study the way the GCSB chose its targets, what its decision-making process was and how it stuck to its duty to be politically neutral.

A wide-ranging review into New Zealand's intelligence agencies will be headed by former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Michael Cullen and lawyer Dame Patsy Reddy.

The “fabrication” claim has been part of the Prime Minister’s standard response to revelations of activities carried out by New Zealand’s electronic eavesdropping agency.

It would be surprising if our intelligence agencies were not spying on China in some way, writes David Fisher.

More New Zealanders were being monitored because of their links to Islamic State the head of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service says.

Wrong, says the Prime Minister of the surveillance stories, but he won't say why. David Fisher analyses the Edward Snowden leaks.

The watchdog tasked with overseeing the country's spy agencies says it is not yet possible to say that they have adequate systems in place to ensure correct behaviour.

Facebook pages encouraging violence on behalf of Isis are among factors increasing NZ's official terrorism risk and leading to a recruitment drive for new spies.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters called an expansion of the SIS's surveillance powers "Nazism" in Parliament last night.

Cheryl Gwyn won't comment on whether John Key's text exchange with Cameron Slater will be part of her investigation into the leak of her recent report into the SIS' handling of an OIA request from Slater.

SIS director Rebecca Kitteridge has been recalled today to answer questions by MPs on the committee considering extensions to the powers of the domestic spy agency.

Security Intelligence Service boss Rebecca Kitteridge should have told Phil Goff to get stuffed, writes Rodney Hide.

Deputy Prime Minister accepts it but says John Key runs the "most transparent government that New Zealand's ever seen".

Prime Minister John Key should accept it's "game over" and acknowledge his office's dirty tricks, says Labour Leader Andrew Little.

NZ’s spy watchdog Cheryl Gwyn is to investigate Labour MP Phil Goff’s acknowledgement he disclosed findings from her SIS report before its release.

The Government’s plans to allow the SIS to conduct surveillance without a warrant for up to 48 hours may not get enough support.

The Opposition says the PM John Key is "in denial" over a report which backs allegations his staff used information from the SIS for a smear campaign.

A report by intelligence watchdog Cheryl Gwyn has found blogger Cameron Slater requested and published damaging material about Phil Goff from the SIS.

If there's one thing that irks Rebecca Kitteridge, it is being referred to as the new head of the SIS spy agency.

The SIS, the country's domestic spying agency, looks set to gain greater powers in a quickfire overhaul of terrorism laws despite the PM's assertion there's a "low risk" to NZ.

Phone companies have revealed the extent of Govt agency spying on their networks, with more than 70 secret wire taps last year in New Zealand alone.

Prime Minister John Key says neither New Zealand's domestic and foreign spy agencies, the SIS and GCSB, have been involved in surveillance of journalist Jon Stephenson.

A former Defence Force chief says he is concerned by a leaked Defence Force document that lists investigative journalists as subversive threats.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says he wants the GCSB law clarified as quickly as possible with as little politicking as possible.

Kim Dotcom's company Mega is warily eyeing proposed legislation that may oblige it to open its systems to surveillance by spy agencies the GCSB and SIS.

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom is trying to drag one of the country's most senior police officers into court.

The Security Intelligence Service blocked Kim Dotcom's application for residency after learning of the FBI investigation into internet piracy then lifted it at the last minute.