Podcasts about gcsb

To share how we protect our sensitive information here in New Zealand, former defence and GCSB minister Andrew Little talks to Emile Donovan.

While they didn't turn up in an Aston Martin, the heads of New Zealand's spy agencies, the GCSB and the NZSIS came to Parliament this week to give MPs, media, and the public a rare glimpse into New Zealand's intelligence community. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There were more than 340 cyber attacks on high value New Zealand targets in a 12 month period according to the government's cyber security agency. A third of them were likely carried out by hackers working for foreign governments, a significant jump on the year before. Almost one in five of the attacks are thought to have been criminal or financially motivated. A total of 7122 cyber security incidents were recorded by the Government Communications Security Bureau or GCSB in the year ended July 2024. Deputy Director-General Cyber Security, Lisa Fong spoke to Lisa Owen.

Judith Collins is one of the busiest Ministers in Government. She is Attorney General, Minister of Defence, Minister for Digitising Government, Minister Responsible for the GCSB and the NZSIS, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, and Minister for Space. During her 22 years in Parliament she's championed reform of New Zealand's justice system, she's been the National Party leader, and last year was made King's Counsel. Judith Collins joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels for Six and a Song. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister responsible for the security services, Judith Collins, says she's now seeking further information, but has been advised the GCSB was made aware of the "potential targeting of several email addresses relating to New Zealand representatives on the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China." Labour MP and co-chair of IPAC Ingrid Leary spoke to Corin Dann

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager says a decade old leaked US intelligence document points to the identity of the foreign intelligence equipment hosted by the GSCB without the knowledge of politicians. Last week, the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security revealed a foreign agency has been running a spy operation in New Zealand for almost a decade, without ministers knowing. Nicky Hager, who was a member of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security's reference group, has used information leaked by Edward Snowden to identify the mystery intelligence equipment. In a commentary piece published on the RNZ website Friday morning Hagar says the papers point to the use of a system called APPARITION which was to be installed at the base in June 2012, the same date as the foreign intelligence equipment discussed in the Inspector-General's report Nicky Hager says APPARITION collects location data for capture-kill operations. Other Snowden documents show that APPARITION was run by the United States' National Security Agency, or NSA.

Top stories for 28 March 2024: New Zealand companies and immigration advisers are being offered big money from overseas to sell jobs that don't exist. Journalist Nicky Hager tells us what he believes is the mystery foreign surveillance system that operated out of the GCSB for a decade. The Education Review Office says bad behaviour in schools has reached critical levels. Bad weather is on the way for the North Island over the Easter break. And in Taranaki, about 40 kiwi have been release into a local national park.

It was hard to watch the China spying coverage yesterday without wondering what all the fuss was about.  It had an air of breathlessness about it, as though this had come as some sort of surprise.  Does the fact China spies on people honestly come as news to anyone? I guess hacking, as the PM suggested, is new, but spying and hacking... it's all nefarious skulduggery, isn't it?  Have a look at the 60 Minutes Australia piece over the weekend, or the associated coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald or The Age on the story of the plane landing in Fiji loaded to the gunnels with police from China, who then went and rounded up a bunch of people and took them back to the mainland.  Have a look at the Chinese in places like the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea with their security services.  Have a look at the ongoing tit for tat between the United States and China, or the UK and China. China are bad actors all over the world and have been for years.  And I would be equally surprised if those that had the wherewithal, like the Americans, like the British, like any major player in Europe, weren't doing exactly the same thing.  When the GCSB or SIS speak, which isn't often, the cyber activity of all sorts of people raises a lot of eyebrows. Not by the fact it's happening, but the fact it's so common.  The ASIO head in Australia is a bloke well worth listening to given he pops up periodically and tells the same story with real flourish, his last report just a month or so back revealed there was an ex-MP who was busy undertaking nefarious activity.  He refused to name them, much to the chagrin of all MPs who claimed to have been tainted by association.  The simple truth in all of this is the Chinese are not to be trusted, but then I assume they would say the same about us.  But beyond that we are happy to be friendly in each other's company and exchange a serious amount of goods which is the two way street that is trade.  For a country like America they can make much of the spying activity. They can call the Chinese out, they can threaten and impose sanctions. People like Trump collect votes on the rhetoric.  Poor old New Zealand?  No such luck. We are between a rock and a hard place. We have no choice. Which is why you have seen the Government do nothing, because they can do nothing.   Aus got up Chinese noses by posing embarrassing questions about Covid and the sanctions got slapped on so fast it was only last week the last of them around wine looked like they were getting lifted.  China spies. China has a big global ideology and a desire to influence a lot of the planet. This is not new. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's believed that the New Zealand and China relationship will be able to overcome recent cyber-attack allegations.  The GCSB has connected an attack on our Parliamentary entities in August 2021 to Chinese state-sponsored group, APT40.  New Zealand China Council Executive Director Alistair Crozier said New Zealand has always had its own unique approach to China.   He told Mike Hosking that the issue can be worked out.   Crozier said when differences emerge, the two countries hold robust conversations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister in charge of the GCSB in 2021- when a cyber incident targeted Parliamentary entities - has revealed more about what followed. The spy agency revealed today it became aware the intrusion, linked to a Chinese state-backed actor. China's ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong has called the accusations groundless and irresponsible. Andrew Little says he was told there had been a hack, but lengthy investigation was needed. "Making an announcement, a co-ordinated announcement of this nature, on this particular hack has been talked about for some months. But obviously, all the things lined up for that to happen in the last 24 hours." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Startling revelations about the frequency of cyber attacks on significant New Zealand organisations. The GCSB says malicious targeting of the Parliamentary Counsel Office and Parliamentary Services in 2021 was linked to to actors backed by China. The Government is condemning the actions and publicly backing the UK and US, which have announced retaliatory sanctions over similar claims. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this isn't the first time international agencies have attempted to spy on New Zealand- but the Chinese factor has charged the response. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expert says allegations of Chinese cyber-attacks in New Zealand have been at a lower level than our allies.   Spy agency the GCSB has tied targeting of our Parliamentary entities in August 2021 to Chinese state-sponsored group APT40.   China's ambassador to New Zealand has labelled the accusations groundless and irresponsible.  International Relations Expert Geoffrey Miller told Mike Hosking that the UK and US accusations are on a different level.   He says the UK alleged China had gotten the information of 14 million voters.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Kingdom and the United States have called out China over what they say are state sponsored cyber attacks. At the same time as malicious attacks were taking place in the UK against their electoral commission and MPs , here in New Zealand the then-minister for the Government Communications Security Bureau, Andrew Little, revealed there were cyber attacks here. New Zealand's SIS, and GCSB, will both appear before the Intelligence and Security Committee on Tuesday. The Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Corin Dann.

The United Kingdom and the United States have called out China over what they say have been state sponsored cyber-attacks. The United Kingdom has accused China of hacking its electoral commission, and targeting some of its MPs. In New Zealand, the then-minister for the Government Communications Security Bureau, Andrew Little, revealed in July 2021 that malicious cyber activity had been linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security. New Zealand's SIS, and GCSB, will both appear before the Intelligence and Security Committee on Tuesday. The Minister for the SIS and GCSB, Judith Collins, has declined to comment on the allegations. China has rejected the accusations. RNZ's political editor Jo Moir spoke to Corin Dann.

The Government has revealed a cyber attack on New Zealand's parliamentary network in 2021 by a Chinese state-sponsered actor...a claim rejected by China. The head of the spy agency, the GCSB, Andrew Clark has spoken about what happen and whether any sensitive information was taken.

A former minister in charge of the country's spy agencies says it's utterly unacceptable the GCSB hosted a spy operation for a foreign power without telling the Government. The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security has released a damning report which found the operation ran out of the Government Communications Security Bureau between 2013 and 2020 without any minister over that time knowing. The current GCSB minister, Judith Collins, declined to be interviewed Friday morning, as did the GCSB. Andrew Little was the minister in charge when it was finally revealed in 2020 that the operation had happened. Little spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

What country was running a spying operation remotely out of the New Zealand intelligence gathering system for years without the government knowing? Local spy bosses knew it was good at identifying military targets - but was it used this way here, and against who? Questions continue swirling around a bombshell official investigation into the Government Communications Security Bureau. Ian Fletcher was director general at the GCSB at the time it signed the secret deal to let the foreign agency in, in 2012 - but the inquiry says he never knew about it. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann.

New Zealand's joined its five eyes partners calling out Russia for malicious, sustained and politically targeted cybers attacks on the UK. The United Kingdom's National Cyber Security Centre claims groups with strong links to Russia's Federal Security Services have targeted high profile individuals and entities; attempting to interfere in UK politics and democratic processes. It includes phishing parliamentarians over the past 8 years, hacking and leaking sensitive trade and other documents, as well as targetting Universities, journalists, NGO's and government departments. Aotearoa, the United States, Canda and Australia all threw their weight behind the UK govenrment, condemming the actions of Russia. Minister for the GCSB, Judith Collins speaks to Lisa Owen. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6342563133112

Former National Party leader Judith Collins has a prominent role with the new government, appointed to several ministerial posts as well as the position of Attorney-General. A lawyer by profession, Collins will also be Minister of Defence, Minister in charge of spy agencies the GCSB and SIS, the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, and the first Minister for Space. It's been a topsy turvy few years for Judith Collins, after leading an unsuccessful 2021 election campaign as National leader, but she'll now be one of the most experienced ministers in Christopher Luxon's cabinet. Collins spoke to Corin Dann.

In this episode, Tom Maasland, a partner in MinterEllisonRuddWatts' Technology team talks to Luke Han, a solicitor in Tom's team, about the framework for cyber security that exists in New Zealand. Tom and Luke focus on recent New Zealand standards in cyber security that set out a framework for compliance, giving entities the best chance for protecting the data that they hold and defending their technology against cyber attacks.[2:10] Tom and Luke start by discussing the difference between data security (also known as information security) and cyber security, giving examples of each instance. [4:15] They then look at key standards in New Zealand, starting with the New Zealand Protective Security Requirement (PSR), in particular looking at personnel, information and physical security.[9:00] Next, they discuss the New Zealand Information Security Manual (NZISM), a component of the PSR that is maintained by the GCSB. They talk about the complexity of this document, and look at specific versus general contractual compliance.[12:12] Tom and Luke then talk about Te Whatu Ora's Health Information Security Framework, that was introduced at the end of 2022. [14:56] Finally, they talk about the recently established National Cyber Security Centre's (NCSC) Cyber Security Framework, which is currently in beta form and is inviting feedback.Information in this episode is accurate as at the date of recording, 03 November 2023.We note that the podcast references a large number of regulatory regimes and documentation, both here and abroad. For ease of reference, we have set out links to some of the key items mentioned below:•ISO standards: the international organisation for standardisation, which operates out of Switzerland. The best known standard for information security, cyber security and privacy protection is ISO/IEC 27001, available for purchase here.•NIST framework: a framework arising out of the United States to help organisations better manage and reduce cyber security risk. This is a voluntary framework except in the case of certain organisations, e.g. US federal government agencies.•Protective Security Requirements (PSR): the PSR is available here•NZ Information Security Manual (NZISM): the NZISM is available here•National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC): information about the NCSC is available here•NCSC Cyber Security Framework: the proposed framework and address for suggestions in feedback is here.Please contact Tom Maasland or our Technology team if you need legal advice and guidance on any of the topics discussed in the episode.Please get in touch to receive an episode transcript. Please don't forget to rate, review or follow Tech Suite wherever you get your podcasts. You can also sign up to receive technology updates via your inbox here.For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

Technology correspondent Tony Grasso joins Susie to talk about how the security questions we rely on to our secure our accounts ..."what's your mum's maiden name?", "your first pet's name" could be vulnerable in the age of AI. A simple process error was behind the release of names on the Firearms Register, Tony looks at how it could've been avoided. Microsoft has been the subject of an attack by Chinese hackers, while the GCSB says Russia was behind a DDoS attack on the Parliamentary website and Tony will talk about why he believes MikroTik routers should be avoided.

The government is merging CERT NZ - who help the public with cyber-attacks - and the GCSB together. This decision's had huge opposition who say it's been rushed through. GCSB minister Andrew Little says he's after a single front door for cyber security reporting, triage and response. Darkscope Technical Director Joerg Buss talked with Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former cabinet minister says he's baffled by Michael Wood's repeated failure to declare shares. Wood is resigning as a minister over failing to disclose shareholdings in the telecommunications and banking sectors. It follows his previous failure to disclose or dispose of shares in Auckland Airport, despite repeated requests. Peter Dunne - who resigned as a minister himself in 2013 after withholding information from an inquiry into a leak of a GCSB report - told Mike Hosking the Wood situation is truly bizarre. He says after the warnings Wood received over his airport shares, he should at least have gone back to check if he was in the clear. Chris Hipkins is now considering additional restrictions on ministers holding shares. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big question for Chris Hipkins over whether to remove Michael Wood from cabinet. Wood remains stood down as Transport Minister after it was revealed he was told to sell his Auckland Airport shares no fewer than 12 separate times. The opposition is calling for Wood to resign or be fired, but Wood says he has no plans to go. Former Cabinet Minister Peter Dunne, who was himself forced to resign from Cabinet in 2013 after he was found to have withheld information from an inquiry into a leak of a GCSB report, told Mike Hosking he agrees Wood needs to go. He says the recent controversies over Michael Wood, Jan Tinetti, Stuart Nash, Kiri Allan and Meka Whaitiri have detracted from Hipkins' leadership. Jan Tinetti will appear before the Privileges Committee today, accused of misleading the House over attendance figures. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A counter terrorism expert says it is no surprise to hear the government's security agencies foiled three possible terror attacks. The director general of the Government Communications Security Bureau, or GCSB, Andrew Hampton, says other agencies had identified the people involved, one who was an ISIL sympathiser, and the other two who were white supremacists. Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security teaching fellow John Battersby says the security agencies are trying to show how proactive they have been, but these incidents shouldn't come as a surprise. Dr Battersby spoke to Corin Dann.  

Three domestic terror attacks prevented by New Zealand's spy agencies have shown the complex scale of threats the country is facing. GCSB boss Andrew Hampton has revealed how its capabilities were used in three counter-terrorism operations They included a person making bomb threats last year and increasingly concerning behaviour online from a white extremist. Disinformation Project Director Kate Hannah told Mike Hosking it's difficult to tell if someone behaving in an anti-social way online will become a genuine threat. She says in the last two years they've seen an increase in people's preparedness to turn up and protest and this indicates if a person is more likely to take it to the next step. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online platforms are playing an increasing role in New Zealand's risk of domestic terrorism. The country's spy boss Andrew Hampton has revealed how the GCSB's capabilities were used in three counter-terrorism operations They included a person making bomb threats last year and increasingly concerning behaviour online from a white extremist. Massey University security expert John Battersby told Kate Hawkesby the issue of social media and misinformation advancing the problem has worsened in New Zealand. He says the number of people likely to be influenced by it are roughly the same everywhere, so while it may not get better, he's not sure if it will get worse, and we'll have to live with it. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The merger between Orcon Group (aka Vocus NZ) and 2degrees has cleared its final hurdle after the Overseas Investment Office granted consent.The deal earlier gained Commerce Commission, GCSB and shareholder approvals.Orcon Group chief executive Mark Callander, who will lead the merged business, said: "We expect the transaction to be finalised in the coming weeks and will come together as a combined business on June 1."The combined business would be known as 2degrees, Callander said.Orcon Group's various sub-brands, including Orcon, Slingshot, Flip and 2Talk will continue to be used. The firm also owns a nationwide fibre network spanning more than 4000km, a small power retailer (Switch Utilities) and provisions service for Sky TV's Sky Broadband.The new company will combine 2degrees' mobile network with Orcon Group's more landline-focused business for what analysts see as a stronger number three competitor to Spark and Vodafone.The merged company's combined revenue will be around $1.2 billion next to Spark's $3.59b and Vodafone NZ's $1.95b for 2021.Source / Vocus NZThe merger of Orcon Group and 2degrees operations follows the transaction just approved by the OIO in which Orcon Group's Australian parent, Voyage, bought 2degrees from its US parent Trilogy.Orcon Group and 2degrees put their respective local IPO plans on hold as deal talks began late last year. Callander says a listing is now off the table.Jarden research head Arie Dekker earlier said given new corporate parent Voyage (in turn owned by investment bank Macquarie Group and Aware Super) had deep pockets, there was now no need for an IPO to raise capital.There has been speculation that the combined Orcon Group and 2degrees could, in turn, merge with Sky TV. Dekker earlier said that was unlikely. Such a deal would add risk and volatility, and regulatory headwinds.- by Chris Keall, NZ Herald

The merger between Orcon Group (aka Vocus NZ) and 2degrees has cleared its final hurdle after the Overseas Investment Office granted consent.The deal earlier gained Commerce Commission, GCSB and shareholder approvals.Orcon Group chief executive Mark Callander, who will lead the merged business, said: "We expect the transaction to be finalised in the coming weeks and will come together as a combined business on June 1."The combined business would be known as 2degrees, Callander said.Orcon Group's various sub-brands, including Orcon, Slingshot, Flip and 2Talk will continue to be used. The firm also owns a nationwide fibre network spanning more than 4000km, a small power retailer (Switch Utilities) and provisions service for Sky TV's Sky Broadband.The new company will combine 2degrees' mobile network with Orcon Group's more landline-focused business for what analysts see as a stronger number three competitor to Spark and Vodafone.The merged company's combined revenue will be around $1.2 billion next to Spark's $3.59b and Vodafone NZ's $1.95b for 2021.Source / Vocus NZThe merger of Orcon Group and 2degrees operations follows the transaction just approved by the OIO in which Orcon Group's Australian parent, Voyage, bought 2degrees from its US parent Trilogy.Orcon Group and 2degrees put their respective local IPO plans on hold as deal talks began late last year. Callander says a listing is now off the table.Jarden research head Arie Dekker earlier said given new corporate parent Voyage (in turn owned by investment bank Macquarie Group and Aware Super) had deep pockets, there was now no need for an IPO to raise capital.There has been speculation that the combined Orcon Group and 2degrees could, in turn, merge with Sky TV. Dekker earlier said that was unlikely. Such a deal would add risk and volatility, and regulatory headwinds.- by Chris Keall, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Hampton, GCSB director-general joined Andrew Dickens on keeping an eye out for cyberattacks as we take a harder line on Russia. LISTEN ABOVE

Questions to Ministers 1. BROOKE VAN VELDEN to the Minister of Housing: What actions, if any, will she take in response to revelations that an upcoming political candidate was used in a Kainga Ora promotion, and does she believe the culture of Kainga Ora is upholding what is expected of the Public Service? 2. Dr DUNCAN WEBB to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy? 3. ANDREW BAYLY to the Minister of Finance: Is he satisfied with the level of openness and transparency around the Government's spending? 4. SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What recent progress has been made on New Zealand's COVID-19 vaccine programme across the regions? 5. CHRIS BISHOP to the Minister of Health: What is the average length of time between someone testing positive for COVID-19 and public health staff getting in contact with them regarding isolation arrangements, and is he satisfied with the management of the home self-isolation system? 6. GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister responsible for the GCSB: What recent announcements have been made in the GCSB portfolio? 7. JAN LOGIE to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Is she confident the Government is adequately supporting whanau in hardship through COVID-19? 8. GREG O'CONNOR to the Minister of Transport: What recent progress has been made to improve transport in the regions? 9. NICOLA WILLIS to the Minister of Housing: How did she make it clear to Kainga Ora that she is "not comfortable with them using political candidates" in their advertising, and what actions have been taken by Kainga Ora to address her concerns? 10. NAISI CHEN to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent progress has been made towards regulating merchant service fees? 11. HARETE HIPANGO to the Associate Minister of Health (Maori Health): Will the Ministry of Health release Maori health data in the manner requested by the Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency, and how much have Government departments spent to date on legal costs in relation to this issue? 12. NICOLE McKEE to the Minister of Justice: How many prior convictions on average does a third-strike offender have?

China has hit back at New Zealand after accusations of Chinese-sponsored hacking going on.Late Monday night, GCSB Minister Andrew Little said New Zealand had established links between Chinese state-sponsored actors known as Advanced Persistent Threat 40 (APT40) and malicious cyber activity in New Zealand.Little has called on China to stop the hacking.Beijing responded, saying the claims are lies, slander and ridiculous, and have threatened devastating consequences if the rhetoric continues.Andrew Hampton, the Director-General at the GCSB, told Heather du Plessis Allan New Zealand has been aware for several years about malicious activity by the Chinese ministry."In 2018 the New Zealand Government called them out for a compromise of a range of global managed service provides, which they used to get to customers."If you look at the Minister's statement it's actually talking about two related things - the first is an ongoing campaign that is a whole range of attacks that have been underway for a number of years, and then there's specifically the compromise of the Microsoft exchange which occurred at the start of the year.Hampton says the attribution process undertaken took some weeks to confirm who was responsible for the attacks."The New Zealand Government has raised with the Chinese embassy its concerns about this malicious cyber activity. The decision to go now and speak publically about this is driven by a couple of things - firstly that formal attribution process needed to be complete, but also to have as big as an effect as possible New Zealand wanted to make it a statement at the same time as a range of other like-minded countries did," Hampton adds.

New Zealand's cyber security agency believes China has been behind numerous hack attacks spanning years. The government joined western allies and Japan in calling out Beijing for so-called state-sponsored hacks, including a major incursion in February when Microsoft email servers were targeted. The US has charged four Chinese nationals - three security officials and one contract hacker - with targeting dozens of companies and government agencies in the United States and overseas under the cover of a tech company. Government Communications Security Bureau Director-General Andrew Hampton explains how they know the hacking came from China.

Cyberattackers are getting smarter and the attacks more sophisticated. A North Island kindergarten association is among hundreds of groups hit at the weekend by a cybercriminal gang believed to be based in Russia. The REvil group is believed to be responsible for the attack targeting users of its remote IT management software Kaseya VSA. Andrew Hampton is the director-general of the Government Communications Security Bureau - the country's foreign intelligence agency. He told reporter Katie Doyle the international "threat-scape" is changing.

Schools are offline and more than 100 North Island kindergartens are back to pen and paper due to a major international ransomware hit. The GCSB is monitoring the situation and says people should be concerned by a recent cybercrime surge. Katie Todd reports.

Protein scientist and writer Danyl McLauchlan joins Kim to tackle life's big questions, ideas and thinkers. This week he's discussing the current relevance of Nicky Hager's 1996 book Secret Power in relationship to the Five Eyes network, the GCSB, and New Zealand's ongoing role in global surveillance.

Protein scientist and writer Danyl McLauchlan joins Kim to tackle life's big questions, ideas and thinkers. This week he's discussing the current relevance of Nicky Hager's 1996 book Secret Power in relationship to the Five Eyes network, the GCSB, and New Zealand's ongoing role in global surveillance.

Justin spoke with Health, GCSB, and SIS Minister Andrew Little about the Budget's spending on health, the cyberattack against the Waikato DHB, and a review of the Intelligence and Security Act being brought forward.

Waikato DHB has admitted there's a real threat some people's personal information may have been breached, as a result of the cyber attack. The DHB is still working to get its systems back online - something it has described as "more complex" than it thought. Chief executive Kevin Snee says he understands there may be some anxiety about the fate of data and information held by the DHB. The DHB has been given the services of the Government Communications Security Bureau to sort out the problem. "There is a chance they will have taken data that was on the system, and exfiltrated the data - put it somewhere else, usually in the dark web for later use," Health Minister and GCSB Minister Andrew Little told Checkpoint. The widespread nature of the attack revealed "a high degree of exposure," Little said. A review will establish exactly what happened. "You would expect in this day and age for a sophisticated organisation like DHB running a series of health services, there would be adequate protections around those sorts of things."

The Royal Commission into the Christchurch terror attack has released its findings, and the government has responded. The report found under-resourced security agencies, a patchy system for information sharing and enforcement, lax practices for firearms licensing and too much of a focus on the threat of Islamic extremism. Despite these findings, the report says nothing could have been done to stop the attacks, which left 51 Muslims dead, and the agencies were not to blame. Andrew Little is the Minister in charge of the government's response to the Royal Commission's report, and intelligence agencies the GCSB and NZSIS. He speaks to Corin Dann.

The delayed findings of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch mosque shootings will finally be released this afternoon and Muslim leaders hope its recommendations will help prevent future terror attacks.Almost 21 months since the worst terror attack on New Zealand soil, the contents of the Royal Commission's 792-page report, examining how the tragedy was able to occur, can be publicly revealed at 2pm.NZME journalists in Wellington and Christchurch will be given advanced looks of the potentially-historic findings at secured "lock-up" events from 10am to digest and analyse its contents.The Herald understands it's likely that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will speak at an embargoed press conference at the lock-ups, along with Andrew Little as minister in charge of New Zealand's spy agencies, the Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), Police Minister Poto Williams, Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi, and local MP Megan Woods.It's not clear if the chief executives of NZSIS and GCSB will be in attendance.Brenton Tarrant was jailed for life without parole for the March 15, 2019 terror attack where 51 Muslims were shot and killed in Christchurch. Photo / FileThe inquiry, chaired by Commissioner Sir William Young, has been investigating the Australian mass killer Brenton Tarrant's activities before the March 15, 2019, attacks, including his travel in New Zealand and around the world, how he obtained firearms, his use of social media, and what relevant state sector agencies knew about him before the attacks.It also looked at what actions state agencies took, what more they could have done, and whether some of them, such as intelligence agencies, were too busy looking at Islamic fundamentalism at the expense of the threat of white nationalism.It's expected that the report – which took into account around 400 interviews, including one with Tarrant who was jailed for life without parole in August - will include many recommendations aimed at avoiding future similar tragedies.Ardern met with survivors in Christchurch on Sunday ahead of the report's release.After the meeting, she promised victims they will see "immediate action" from the Government."We have said to them: there are some areas they'll see us respond immediately [to] and others that we will need to come back and work through in more detail, and take a bit more time on."Jacinda Ardern visits Christchurch the day after 51 people were fatally shot while attending prayers at two mosques. Photo / Kirk HargreavesBut Ardern said one of the main things she wanted the victims to know is that "there will be accountability on our side in terms of delivering on the Royal Commission [report]"."I do want to make sure that after such a hefty piece of work … that we make sure that we're acting upon it."Islamic groups have called on the Government to appoint a dedicated minister to oversee the report's recommendations.After Sunday's meeting with Ardern, Muslim chaplain Ibrahim Abdelhalim said he was satisfied that the report brings "a good end" to a "very hard time".Muslim chaplain Ibrahim Abdelhalim says it's vital to learn a lesson from the terror attacks. Photo / Getty Images"But we still have a big responsibility for ourselves now to … learn a lesson from what happened, to prevent and stop anything happening again in the future. This is very important," he said.A spokesman for the Muslim Association of Canterbury and Al Noor Mosque hopes the report will result in the Government addressing "the institutionalised racism and prejudicial practices within the public and private sectors, in particular the intelligence services"."The way the Muslim community and the Islamic faith have been misrepresented in our age and many ages before us, is a deep wound that will require a concentrated effort to reconcile," he said."There needs to be a strong investment into nurturing the relationships between Muslim comm...

Kathryn Ryan speaks with GCSB director-general Andrew Hampton about the repeated cyber attacks targetting the NZX in August, which crashed the website and forced several halts in trading. MetService, Westpac, TSB, BNZ,  RNZ, Stuff and Ruapehu Alpine Lifts were also affected. What do we know about the origin of the attacks, are international intelligence agencies any closer to tracking them down and what is the advice for companies and organisations issued with ransom demands?

Kathryn Ryan speaks with GCSB director-general Andrew Hampton about the repeated cyber attacks targetting the NZX in August, which crashed the website and forced several halts in trading. MetService, Westpac, TSB, BNZ,  RNZ, Stuff and Ruapehu Alpine Lifts were also affected. What do we know about the origin of the attacks, are international intelligence agencies any closer to tracking them down and what is the advice for companies and organisations issued with ransom demands?

NZ businesses are being warned to batten down the hatches as cyber criminals expand their targets after taking down the stock exchange for the fifth consecutive trading day. Two media outlets, RNZ and Stuff, say they've been the target of cyber attacks in the past 24 hours - both say their sites remain secure. RNZ understands the attacks may have come from the same group that's been plaguing the NZX. Last week the Government Communications Security Bureau or GCSB was called into help and it's now issued an security advisory urging business to prepare for denial of service attacks. The Minister in charge of the Bureau is Andrew Little, he discusses the issue with Lisa Owen.

The NZX suffered trading halts last week and disruption yesterday for a fifth day, after denial of service attacks took its website offline. Andrew Little, the Minister overseeing the country's spy agency GCSB, says despite investigations, it is not known where the attackers are based or what their motives were. Dr Lech Janczewski is a data security expert at the University of Auckland. He speaks to Susie Ferguson.

After four days of cyber-attacks and trading halts on the NZX, KiwiSaver fund managers say they are frustrated, embarrassed and nervous. Last week the stock exchange was hit by a series of sophisticated denial-of-service style attacks from overseas, sparking an investigation by the Government's GCSB communications security bureau. The attacks meant fund managers could not buy and sell shares on the open market, and hampered their ability to calculate savers' balances. Sam Stubbs is the chief executive of Simplicity.

The government has called in the GCSB to help get to the bottom of the cyber attacks on the NZX. The stock exchange has been hit four times in as many days - crippling its website and bringing a halt to trading. Minister in charge of the GCSB, Andrew Little, discusses the details with Lisa Owen.

The government has pulled in the heavyweights to investigate attacks on the NZX. The stock exchange has been the victim of attacks for four days in a row. Its website has been to its knees and as a result trading was yet again halted today. The GCSB has been called in, but ministers are staying tight-lipped on the action they're taking. Tom Kitchin reports.

National leader Judith Collins has just announced her new shadow cabinet.She will be the Minister of National Security.Gerry Brownlee will be Minister for the SIS, GCSB and Covid recovery.Paul Goldsmith will retain the finance portfolio.Simon Bridges will be Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice.Shane Reti had already been confirmed as Minister of Health - and Nicola Willis has been given Nikki Kaye's education portfolio.Listen to the audio above as Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper joins Kerre McIvor to share his thoughts on the cabinet reshuffle. 

New Zealand has lost some of its independence within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and been "drawn in a lot closer" to the US-led spy network, former prime minister Helen Clark says. Her comments come in the RNZ podcast The Service where former prime ministers and intelligence chiefs reveal the workings of 'the club' of intelligence partners: the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Among them is former GCSB boss Sir Bruce Ferguson, who says any country outside the Five Eyes is fair game for spying and New Zealand should jealously safeguard its position in the club. RNZ investigative journalist Guyon Espiner teamed up with Wellington writer and documentary maker John Daniell to produce the podcast. Guyon Espiner has the story.

She’s the new watchdog of the SIS and the GCSB. We sit down for the first interview with the Acting Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Madeleine Laracy.An international children's expert tells New Zealand to prepare for a dressing down by the United Nations, over the treatment of our children. And, we’re in Taneatua for the landmark agreement between Tuhoe and child welfare agency Oranga Tamariki. Plus, how well do you know your MPs? National MP Denise Lee invites us into her home to tell us her Backstory. And we’re joined by our panel to discuss the political news of the week - Radio New Zealand journalist Indira Stewart, political commentator Shane Te Pou and Marg Joiner from SenateSHJ.

The Christchurch mosque attacks have prompted claims the security agencies have wielded their powers in skewed and unfair ways. Have resources been wasted surveilling Muslims and virtually ignoring possible alt-right extremists? In this second part of a two-part investigation, Phil Pennington asks if the agencies have been monitoring the right people.  

Has the New Zealand Treasury become more about 'the feels' then the economy? One economist believes that is the case. The Treasury has come under intense scrutiny over the last month, after Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf claimed that leaked information National had been promoting about the 2019 Budget had been hacked. This statement was later proven to be inaccurate, with the GCSB allegedly warning Makhlouf against making such a statement. It has raised questions about the state of the Government agency, but economist Eric Crampton believes that it has been suffering for years.He told The Weekend Collective that Treasury has hampered their own ability to succeed by not hiring more analysts than economists. Crampton says external stakeholder surveys over the last four years has shown a decline in trust."We've also seen it in their hiring patterns. The kinds of students who normally would be coming from economics into the summer internship programme, they stopped seeing Treasury as being the place that cared about economics."Crampton did research into their hiring patterns, which showed that Treasury had emphasised everything except for economics in their hiring processes, looking for lawyers and accountants, that those with economic expertise felt on the out. He says this is a problem as Treasury is meant to be a level, economic ruler across all the different government ministries, and provide financial advice to those departments. "That's a lot harder to do if you don't have economists on the job and you hire people with other skills instead."

Jacinda Ardern has finished her whirlwind visit to Beijing with a clear message from the Chinese President ... our two countries must trust each other.In his opening remarks to Jacinda Ardern, Xi Jinping spoke about taking an already very good relationship to new heights but also said the two countries had to trust each other.Meanwhile Huawei is stepping up to the plate, saying it would be willing to have its staff banned from Spark's 5G mobile network, or have only a small number of GSCB-vetted engineers tend to it, if that's what it takes to regain the GCSB's favour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced there will be reform of gun laws. She says Cabinet has made "in principal" decisions about the changes, and there will be change within 10 days. She did not say what those changes would be, but said media would be told within a week. A total of 50 victims have been confirmed dead after Friday's terror attack on two Christchurch mosques, with the dead ranging in age from 2 to older than 60Many more were wounded, with 33 still in hospital.Ardern says there will also be an inquiry, to find out what government agencies knew, or should have known, and whether the attack could have been prevented. It will focus on the GCSB, SIS, police, and customs. NZers have also come together to prove the terror attacks will not divide the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chairman Mao once said a single spark can start a prairie fire. And the GCSB's decision to block Spark's plans to install a Huawei 5G network, late last year, has definitely set the media alight over recent months. Mediawatch takes a look at some of that coverage.

Chairman Mao once said a single spark can start a prairie fire. And the GCSB's decision to block Spark's plans to install a Huawei 5G network, late last year, has definitely set the media alight over recent months. Mediawatch takes a look at some of that coverage.

An acknowledgement from the Prime Minister today that there are issues with China.The Chinese ambassador to New Zealand Madam Wu XI said in Wellington last night both countries needed to build a more resilient relationship and handle differences properly to avoid the rocks.Madam Wu Xi alluded to news headlines about strained relations while speaking at a reception hosted by the New Zealand – China Council at Te Papa.She says as our two countries differ in history, culture and social systems, it's only natural for us to have differences.Jacinda Ardern says the relationship's healthy, while recognising the challenges.At last night's reception, neither the Chinese ambassador nor Ardern raised issues that have strained relations most, a preliminary decision in late November by New Zealand's foreign intelligence agency the GCSB to ban Huawei from Spark's 5G plans.Also today, New Zealand's Miniature Horse Association is hoping the perpetrator of a vicious attack is brought to justice, after a horse died after being stabbed 41 times.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spark has still to decide whether it will submit a revised proposal to the GCSB on the involvement of Huawei in the development of our 5G network.The initial plan was knocked back by the security bureau, although the Government hasn't yet decided whether to follow that recommendation.In a twist, the UK Government is now giving Huawei the go-ahead for 5G networks there.The Financial Times reports the British believe they can mitigate any risks arising from the use of Huawei equipment.Spark says it's in discussions with GCSB officials.Financial Times journalist Demetri Sevastopulo broke the news of Huawei's decision.He said it's a moral defeat for America's efforts to stop Huawei's spread.He told Kate Hawkesby New Zealand will be caught in the middle of a new dispute between the two allies."It outs America in a bind but I think we will probably see America put pressure on the British Government over the next few months specifically over this issue."

The New Zealand-China relationship continues to come under the microscope as it's thought diplomatic links have plummeted to a new low. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was scheduled to visit China early this year, but the invitation has been put on hold. And this morning, the Herald revealed the 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism was meant to be launched with great fanfare at Wellington's Te Papa museum next week, but that has been postponed by China.That initiative was announced by the Key Government almost two years ago when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was in Wellington.The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment says China has advised that this event has had to be postponed due to change of schedule on the Chinese side. Officials are now working with China to reschedule the opening.But it's thought that China sees New Zealand as taking sides with the United States, after the Government's chief spy agency, the GCSB, axed the Chinese telco giant Huawei from the Spark 5G broadband rollout. The Trump Administration publicly asked its Five Eyes partners not to do business with Huawei.Philip Burdon, a former National Government Trade Minister and recently chairman of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, says New Zealand can't afford to take sides.He believes China feels slighted by New Zealand over the decision to block Huawei.Also today, junior doctors go on strike, two men are charged over the December murder of Shannon Baker and Cocksy's last laugh.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two English children will spend their Christmas stranded in New Zealand after a crash that killed one of their mothers and left the other with critical injuries. Six-year-old Ben Sargent and his nine-year-old sister Olivia were holidaying with their mothers Kerry and Jules Sargent in October, when the family were involved in a head-on collision. 42-year-old Kerry, from Gloucester in England, was killed in the crash when the family were travelling near Whangarei. She had been a front seat passenger in one of the two vehicles that rolled. Her partner Jules was rushed to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. While the children were not seriously injured in the crash, Jules' injuries were deemed too serious for her to travel - and faces a lengthy rehabilitation period here in New Zealand. Also today: New Zealand has joined an international chorus, condemning China for cyber intellectual property theft. The US has charged two Chinese nationals with conducting a massive state-sponsored cyber theft, targeting companies and government agencies in at least a dozen countries. The GCSB says some of the thefts target New Zealand organisations.And the Kiwi Christmas tradition, that's news to Kiwis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author of seven books Nicky is NZ's foremost investigative journalist - covering - intelligence networks, environmental matters, politics and other issues. Whose books have both illuminated and shocked readers across the country as well as globally  - as we as a nation find out to our consternation - that behind the news, the bureaucratic systems and the political world - truth is hidden from the masses on a grand and vast scale. He is the only New Zealand member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.   Their website https://www.icij.org/ A World First? To people reading this from overseas it was Nicky who in 1996, essentially 'revealed to the world community' that there was a huge secretive global listening system in place that was ‘hoovering’ up all global electronic communications. Be it telephone calls, emails, faxes, web pages, Google searches, etc and now including texts, Facebook, postings, Twitter feeds etc, etc - all are being recorded to gigantic overseas data bases. This includes this posting you are reading - at this moment - (hi guys!)   Echelon = Five Eyes. This system was called 'Echelon’ now dubbed 'Five Eyes' and these ‘bases’ were and still are in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Anglo American speaking world. Though he was basically ignored in NZ, when the European Parliament heard about this they were initially very upset, especially the French and the Germans. So Nicky was invited to come to the European Parliament to report on his findings. However, to this day, this listening system remains in place as an integral part of the 'deep state’, to the degree that Angela Merkel the German leader, to her consternation, up until relatively recently, had her mobile phone tapped and all her private information recorded. The interview: The Police Raid I asked Nicky if he feels safe in his home after the police raid in 2014 and the confiscation of his computers and files. His answer was that it was emotional disturbing - (listen).   Yet, as a result, he received an 'extraordinary apology' from the NZ police afterwards - stating they should not have done it and that they won't do it again. Then in mid-June 2018, he accepted the apology and compensation for "substantial damages" from  the New Zealand Police for the raid as part of their investigation into the hacking that led to the Dirty Politics book. The Police also acknowledged accessing his financial records as part of the apology settlement. I asked, when the police have to pay up in instances like this, where does the money come from, us the NZ public? Which he agreed that basically it is us, the police are part of the Government that taxpayers finance. Fortunately, Nicky had three top quality lawyers - who gave of their time to have the police, (who after 4 years) finally give an apology to him as well as make 'a declaration that they had acted unlawfully.' He said he was very fortunate in getting the police to apologise. Because this might now stop them doing it to others who are far less resourced than him and his three lawyer friends. In asking about society in general, Nicky states: Most people believe in social services, pay their taxes and want to work for a better world for other people - and that it is only a relatively small number of people that muck it up on massive scale - by doing things secretly, unaccountably that no one knows what they are doing. If journalists let the world know that they can do good quality journalism - this helps curtail people in strong financial and powerful situations from doing corrupt business and banking deals etc. Investigative journalistic ideals work always towards a better world and how things can be right for a better future for children of today  and tomorrow and he says there are more of us than them - and by persistence and focus we can definitely change things for the better. Because there illegal practices are essentially ‘mucking' it up for all of us.   When asked the question, about the lack of top quality journalists across NZ - and did he want to comment on this? He said that there are a good number of very good journalists in NZ, however how the system is run, that it is very difficult to be published. (Listen) To the question about the lack of quality news media - MSM?   He states that when scrutinised MSN are not fulfilling its function in a democratic society.   When asked about Wikipedia - do you find that everything on it is factual and true? Especially about you, Nicky Hager, on your Wiki entry? Nicky says he will never use Wiki, because if the topic is disputed - this is hugely  problematic - especially if there are different sides and interests based around money etc - then Wiki becomes less and less reliable. Some Wiki pages have people with glowing information - they may be important in someone’s estimate - because so much  attention has been given to them. But we need to be very wary. Do you get any feedback that certain entities go on to Wiki and change and edit the  narrative? Yes, this too is problematic. Is there a secretive war going on Wiki? (Listen) You have written 7 books of these:   1 Secret Power    (See above)This also covered the GCSB the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau that can and does listen to all NZ communications within NZ. Tim mentions Oliver Stone the US film director and his movie  - ‘Snowden' - where it implicates the US Deep State, clearly interfering with the Government of Syria - when in fact MSM and the US media tells us that there is a civil war happening - which is clearly not true - Listen or watch the movie.   2 Secrets and  Lies Is about Timberlands West Coast Limited an exposé - in order to cunningly win public support for logging of native forests (old growth) on the West Coast of New Zealand.   (Not mentioned) 3 Seeds of Distrust GE & GMO The book tells the story of how the New Zealand Government handled the unwelcome news of contamination of corn crops with genetically engineered seeds imported from overseas.  NZ Officials succumbed to industry lobbying, quietly changed the regulations to “allow” contaminated crops and ‘managed’ the risk of politicians and the public objecting, by keeping the whole incident secret. The book is not about the corn but about the political management. In this interview Tim mentions that contaminated seeds are still coming into the country especially over 168,000 tons of GE Soybeans, fed to pigs and chickens. Whilst the NZ Government / biosecurity are looking the other way. There is a lot more in the interview about other GE contaminants entering the Port Of Tauranga, having been rejected by China. Nicky understandably (due to all his other many commitments) was not aware of this. Tim asked Nicky about whole paddocks in NZ being sprayed with Monsanto’s glyphosate - causing untold hidden affects to the soil microflora and that when this information becomes known overseas  - that NZ’s clean green image has been sabotaged by their own farmers - what are the consequences for NZ exports? Nicky was not aware of this as this is only just now becoming known. 4 The Hollow Men In November 2006 Hager's book The Hollow Men: A Study in the Politics of Deception was published. The book details a wide range of NZ National Party internal party documents including emails which were leaked by six National Party insiders. The documents were written by the party leader  Don Brash and a wide range of people associated with him. The origin of the book was the exposing of the Exclusive Brethren and their secret funding of the National Party election advertising during the 2005 general election. (This subject was not mentioned either). 5 Other People's  Wars The war on terror in Afghanistan and beyond has been the longest foreign war in New Zealand history, yet most New Zealanders know almost nothing about their country's part in it. For ten years, nearly everything controversial or potentially unpopular was kept secret, and obscured by a steady flow of military public relations stories. Based on thousands of leaked New Zealand military and intelligence documents, extensive interviews with military and intelligence officers and eye-witness accounts from the soldiers on the ground, Nicky Hager tells the story of these years. New Zealand was was far more involved than the public realised in this crucial period of world history, He tells how the military and bureaucracy used the war on terror to pursue private agendas, even when this meant misleading and ignoring the decisions of the elected government. "Nicky Hager has more knowledge and  understanding of the American intelligence world in Afghanistan both its good and it’s very  bad points than any reporter I know." Seymour Hersh, 2013 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Hersh 6 Dirty Politics In August 2014, Hager published Dirty Politics: How attack politics is poisoning New Zealand's political environment, featuring leaked emails between National Party figures and right-wing bloggers. According to Hager the book aims to tell the story of "how attack politics is poisoning NZ's political environment". Hit & Run - with Jon  Stephenson In March 2017, Hager and fellow  journalist Jon Stephenson published Hit & Run: The New Zealand SAS in Afghanistan and the meaning of honour. The book explored the New Zealand Special Air Service's involvement in Operation Burnham, a retaliatory military raid on two Afghan villages, Naik and Khak Khuday Dad, in Afghanistan's Tirgiran Valley in August 2010. The NZ SAS soldiers had attacked a village while pursuing Taliban fighters following the death of a New Zealand soldier in a roadside bomb. According to Hager and Stephenson, none of the fighters were found but 15 civilians were wounded and six killed. The authors asserted that the NZ SAS actions could be considered war crimes and alleged a cover up by the New Zealand Defence Force. Tim: Why is it that our elite NZ SAS special air service forces are used in Afghanistan? Is it because they are better than the US SEALs or because the US military is so over stretched in their world wide network of bases etc? No, because certain elements within the NZ Defence Forces have expressly asked the US to utilise our highly skilled armed soldiers. Listen    Following the  formation of a new Labour-New  Zealand First-Greens coalition government after the 2017 general election,  Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Defence Minister Ron Mark announced in early November that they would hold an inquiry  into the allegations raised by Hit and Run On 13 March 2018, the New Zealand Defence Force  confirmed that the location of an Afghan village mentioned in the book Hit & Run was the same place where the NZSAS raid Operation Burnham took place but maintained that claims of civilian casualties were "unfounded.” On 19 March, the NZDF confirmed that the photos published in Hit  & Run were taken in the same location where Operation Burnham had taken place. On 9 April 2018, the Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier ruled in favour of the New Zealand  Defense Force's decision to withhold most of the information relating to Operation Burnham. On 11 April, Attorney-General David Parker announced that the Government would be holding an inquiry into Operation  Burnham and the allegations in Hit & Run. 9 IGIS Reference Group International Consortium of Investigative  Journalists https://www.icij.org/ Read up on the Panama papers as well as the Paradise Files and you will see just how pervasive corruption is in much of the financial world. On 16 April 2018, Nicky Hager was appointed as a member of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and  Security's Reference Group, an advisory group of journalists, lawyers, academics, and advocates that would scrutinise the legality of the actions of New Zealand's20 intelligence agencies, the NZSIS and GCSB. Hager's appointment was criticised by the National Party's GCSB and NZSIS spokesperson Gerry Brownlee, who pointed to his previous criticism of the NZSIS. Other questions: Anything on who pay donations secretly to political parties? This to Nicky is a big deal. He states that NZ has to clean up its act regarding donations to Political Parties. This to him is an imperative  Listen NZs foreign policy?  Trade with China, and defence with the USA. Is this a incongruent foreign policy? Especially as Paul Buchanan the NZ security analyst and researcher intimated that it was actually a schizophrenic foreign policy. Listen Tim says that as NZ is now in the US Alliance once again, playing with the most expensive and lethal of weapons, it was a different story when the NZ Government democratically announced its Nuclear Free policy, back in 1987. Once this happened NZ Army service men - on bases in the US were shunned through no fault of their own. Many cases of being ignored by US service people made life very difficult for the NZers as they disengaged under NZ Government orders. Example cited: whilst walking along corridors bases in the US as soon as any US servicemen saw the NZ counterpart walking towards them, they immediately opened up any door to their left or right and went inside closing the door waiting for the NZer to pass and then coming out ‘after the kiwi had moved on.’  This was very un ‘warrior like.’ A true warrior respects another warrior from the other side and vice versa. “ True warriors do have codes of ethics, which they follow.” The NZ Frigate Te Kaha being birthed in Honolulu July 08 2012 The frigate HMNZS Te Kaha and tanker HMNZS Endeavour were taking part in Rimpac, the world's biggest military operation, but while old enemies Japan and even a Russian ship were are allowed into Pearl Harbour, the New Zealand ships were sent to Aloha Tower  - deep in the commercial heart of Honolulu. This was seen as being unfriendly, possibly spiteful, all as a result of NZ’s 1987, democratic process of not allowing nuclear armed or powered naval ships into NZ ports or waters. Tim asked Nicky about the John Campbell Live  - James Clapper episode - here in NZ. Where in March 15th 2011 – Top NSA Spy chief, James Clapper, flies to NZ to meet with John Key and this was so secret it was not mentioned at all by the NZ Government -... This country owes John Campbell and the Campbell Live team for explaining how this was exposed - that an aviation photographer at Wellington airport saw a US Airforce Transport plane on the tarmac and photographed it and then enlarged the photo to be able to actually see who was getting back on board - that it was James Clapper on his way back home. he had been quietly here in relation to security and Five Eyes and NZers knew zero about it. Note the Campbell live show critique went along political lines. The left said something is fishy and the right blew it off as a conspiracy.    https://www.ourplanet.org/.../sprung-sneaking-into-nz-james-clapper-head-of-the-nsa Note as Clapper is 'deep state’ he has been accused of perjury back in the US . March 12, 2013, during a United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing, Senator  Ron Wyden quoted NSA director Keith B. Alexander's keynote speech at the 2012 DEF CON. Alexander had stated that "Our job is foreign intelligence" and that "those who would want to weave the story that we have millions or hundreds of millions of dossiers on people, is absolutely false…. from my perspective, this is absolute nonsense.”  Senator Wyden of the Select intelligence Committee asked Clapper, "Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?" He responded, "No, sir." Wyden asked "It does not?" and Clapper said, "Not wittingly. There are cases where they could inadvertently, perhaps, collect, but not wittingly." This opens the question, does the spying facility in NZ spy on Australia and the Australians spy on the Canadians and the Canadians spy on the Americans - The US on the UK etc etc and on it goes, every country vacuuming up the other countries communications so that under oath, the intelligence officials can say they are not spying on ‘their own’ country? So this was more than a very engaging interview. What one comes away is that Nicky is straight down the line, my questioning could not sway him in any direction other than he told the truth from what he knew. Though this was a serious interview there were a few little parts that made one laugh, mainly at the ludicrousness of it all.

I’m surprised that more people aren’t up in arms after a report yesterday found an investigation firm have been spying on New Zealanders and invading their privacy on the behest of State agencies.Security company Thompson and Clark has been barred from doing any more work for the government after the investigation by the State Services Commission found it used an unlicensed private investigator and produced electronic recordings of closed meetings without the consent or knowledge of attendees.To me the report is eye opening.Two brothers who claimed they were physically, sexually and psychologically abused in state care were seeking legal redress and damages from the Government. But rather than taking responsibility the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Crown Law hired private investigators to dig up dirt on witnesses.An entire government department, MBIE, has been found to have abandoned impartiality and become politicised.The report reveals Thompson and Clark also invaded the privacy of political parties like the Greens and Mana and various iwi groups around the country. And it had a peer into Greenpeace. The report says it was concerned that Thompson and Clark investigated so called “issue motivated groups” under the excuse that they raised security concerns. But then they stepped over the mark into information mining.And most disturbingly they invaded closed meetings of Christchurch earthquake victims to mine information for Southern Response, the government's insurance agency. This had led to the immediate resignation of the agency’s chairman Ross Butler.Now while we can call it spying it’s at the lower end of the scale but not in the eyes of some. Kim Dotcom was all over Twitter last night saying that New Zealanders pride themselves on being the least corrupt nation on earth but that’s a delusion. Of course he reckons the rot goes deep. After all the GCSB was found to have illegally spied on him. And on the face of it state agencies hiring private investigators to spy on New Zealand citizens going about their lawful business just sounds awful.My concern is how it demonstrates the deep polarity that exists in our society these days. The contest of ideas has grown so vicious that if we not for something we’re against it. And we’ll do anything to defeat our so called enemies and in doing so we lose all perspective.We saw it in Jami Lee Ross’s leaks of banal information. The rise of political strategists like Simon Lusk and the co-operation of bloggers to spread dirt. The whisper campaign against Clarke Gayford that caused the police to issue an extraordinary statement refuting the rumours. The way this morning when Russell Norman raised his concerns at being spied on most texts just waved them away because they just don’t like what Greenpeace stands for.It seems to me that some New Zealanders fervour in their own beliefs have caused them to lose their soul. So step back, take a chill pill and stand up for yourself, but do it honestly and openly.

Spark says it has been notified by the Director-General of the GCSB that it cannot use Huawei gear for its pending 5G mobile network upgrade.The GCSB's apparent move comes after reports earlier this week that the US was pressuring allies to drop Huawei.Newstalk ZB Politcal Editor Barry Soper told Andrew Dickens it cannot be underestimated how important the announcement was yesterday."The decision made by Hauwai regarding the 5G network is a massive one, it will impact the country's economy for sure. Our traditional allies Australia and United States will be very pleased we stayed close to them."LISTEN ABOVE AS BARRY SOPER SPEAKS TO ANDREW DICKENS

Co-Host: Charles Thomas News of the Bogus: 0:48 – New Zealand High Court rules that the GCSB spy agency illegally spied on Megaupload https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3016253/dotcoms-lawyer-calls-for-case-to-be-dismissed-after-court-rules-that-new-zealands-gcsb-illegally-spied-on-megaupload 5:15 – Judge sides with YouTubers Ethan and Hila Klein in copyright lawsuit https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/23/judge-sides-with-youtubers-ethan-and-hila-klein-in-copyright-lawsuit/ Hosseinzadeh v. Klein https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3946577/Hosseinzadeh-Klein-ruling.pdf 10:35 – Lots of People Deserve Pardons and None of Them Are Named […]

“Open the books,” is Mayoral candidate Penny Bright’s catch phrase, She hasn’t paid her rates for 9 years, and won’t until Auckland Council tells us how our rate payers money is being spent. Auckland Mayoral Candidate and public watchdog Penny Bright talks with Lisa Er. 'Activists get things done'! “It's time to stop the commercialisation and privatisation of Council services and regulatory functions, and return to the genuine 'public service' model” says Penny. “It's time for we the people to take back control of our region, our assets and our resources!” This October, voting Penny Bright for Mayor will not be just a 'protest' vote - but a vote for real change that will serve the public and the public interest - not corporate interests. “I'm fiercely and genuinely politically independent and work on an 'issue by issue' basis. My proven track record is 20 years experience in local government, defending the public & the public interest, as a self-funded anti-privatisation & anti-corruption 'Public Watchdog'.” “I am opposed to corporate control, locally, nationally and internationally, and am the only Auckland Mayoral candidate who is actively opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).” Penny also asserts that it is time to 'roll back Rogernomics' which was based on the myth and mantra 'public is bad - private is good'. (Rogernomics neo-liberal philosophy embraces five basic principles: 1 The rule of the market 2 Cutting public expenditure for social services 3 Deregulation 4 Privatisation 5 Eliminating the concept of public good or community.) “In my opinion, the only ones to have benefited from running public services in a more 'business-like' mode are those businesses which have been awarded the contracts. However, if Government and Council public services are now being owned, operated and managed for private profit without cost-benefit analysis - then that, in my view is 'corporate welfare', to which I am totally opposed.   Open the books - cut out the contractors - bring Council services & regulatory functions back 'in house' under the public service model, and stop corrupt cronyism and corporate welfare.” If elected Auckland Mayor Penny Bright will ensure the rule of law is implemented and enforced regarding ratepayers and citizens lawful rights to open, transparent and democratically accountable local government. “I'm also totally opposed to 'democracy for developers' and question why all this 'growth' has to come to Auckland? In my view, there should be a national population growth, migration and regional employment strategy.” Who benefits now from this 'One Plan' for Auckland, in my view, are property developers, foreign investors, bankers, land bankers, speculators and money-launderers. This is a 'Supercity' - for the 1%. The Auckland region is being run 'like a business - by business - for business, the mechanism for this effective corporate takeover being the 'Council Controlled Organisation' (CCO) model. It's time to stop the commercialisation and privatisation of Council services and regulatory functions, and return to the genuine 'public service' model. It's time for we the people to take back control of our region, our assets and our resources!” This time voting Penny Bright for Mayor will not be just a 'protest' vote - but a vote for real change that will serve the public and the public interest - not corporate interests. Penny’s Bio: AT 61, Penny sees her life as an onion, with many layers to her life. Her formative childhood years were in the Wairarapa. She was brought up on a 6 acre lifestyle block in Carterton, where she picked strawberries in Greytown as a 10 year old, to help buy a pony with the required riding gear. From this she learned to focus, and work hard to achieve what she wanted in life. She did well academically, but chose not to go University, having discovered political activism in her 7th form year through joining the anti-apartheid movement. After a year of hitch-hiking around New Zealand staying at Youth Hostels in the days when you could just walk into jobs off the street, she got on a plane to Sydney with $200 in the bank - to see the world. She didn't get past Australia! In Perth West Australia, in 1974, she got involved in the first famous campaign against foreign military bases in Australia, and was part of the 'Long March' across Australia against the USA base at North West Cape. She decided to return to New Zealand to become more politically involved, and ended up working for 6 years in a home appliance factory in Masterton and working as a Union activist on the factory floor. Penny was made redundant in 1981 and so went to Auckland to live. She was one of the 12 people who organised the anti- Springbok Tour protests in Auckland in 1981. This resulted in her being listed as one of 8 'subversives' on then Prime Minister Rob Muldoon's SIS list, although she has never been able to get a copy of her SIS file, and the GCSB would neither confirm or deny whether she was one of the 88 New Zealanders who had been unlawfully spied upon. After working for 4 years as an electronics assembler in a 'brown goods' factory, and being eventually sacked as a Union activist for being an arguably effective Union delegate, Penny did a welding course at (then) Auckland Institute of Technology (AIT). She was first employed as a welder and then ended up doing an adult apprenticeship in a stainless steel fabrication workshop qualifying in Advanced Trade in Sheet metal Engineering, where she became New Zealand's first female CBIP (Certification Board for Inspectorate Personnel) Welding Inspector. After doing some production planning, Penny became a Quality Assurance Co-ordinator, whose job it was to help ensure that pressure vessels didn't blow up, and  make sure that quality systems were in place so that the jobs that went out on the truck, were that which the sales people had promised, and the clients had ordered and paid for. After a change of company ownership when a number of people were made redundant Penny was subsequently hired as a Welding Tutor for 9 years at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), where she helped teach thousands of (mainly) men how to weld. So Penny had 16 years of working in a totally male-dominated environment. In 2000, she was made redundant from MIT, and having being fortunate enough to become mortgage-free that same year, Penny decided to work full-time on a self-funded basis on the political issues that she was involved with. These were mainly on the local government front, as a founding member of the Water Pressure Group against Auckland City Council's commercialised water services company Metrowater, and water privatisation. Penny has now been involved in local government issues in Auckland for the last 20 years. On the home front she has been together with ‘a lovely man’ who is hugely supportive of her, for over 10 years. Always campaigning with an element of humour, Penny signs her e-mails with, ‘Her Warship’. This interview was sponsored by The Awareness Party http://www.theawarenessparty.com/home/ PENNY BRIGHT’S ACTION PLAN TO ENSURE 'OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE' NZ GOVERNMENT AND JUDICIARY: 1) Make ALL 'facilitation payments' (BRIBES) illegal. 2) Legislate to create a NZ independent anti-corruption body, tasked with educating the public and preventing corruption. 3) Legislate for NZ Members of Parliament (who make the rules for everyone else) to have a legally enforceable 'Code of Conduct'. 4) Make it an offence under the Local Government Act 2002, for NZ Local Government elected representatives to breach their 'Code of Conduct'. 5) Make it lawful, mandatory requirement for Local Government elected representatives to complete a 'Register of Interests' which is available for public scrutiny. 6) Make it a lawful, mandatory requirement for Local Government staff, responsible for property or procurement, to complete a 'Register of Interests' which is available for public scrutiny. 7) Make it lawful, a mandatory requirement for Local Government Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) Directors and staff, responsible for property or procurement, to complete a 'Register of Interests' which is available for public scrutiny. 8) Fully implement and enforce the Public Records Act 2005, to ensure public records are available for public scrutiny. 9) Make it a lawful requirement that a 'cost-benefit' analysis of NZ Central Government and Local Government public finances must be undertaken, to prove that private procurement of public services previously provided 'in house' is cost-effective for the public majority of tax payers and rate payers. 10) Legislate for a legally enforceable 'Code of Conduct' for members of the NZ Judiciary, to ensure that they are not 'above the law'. 11) Legislate to provide a publicly-available NZ Judicial 'Register of Interests', to help prevent 'conflicts of interest'. 12) Ensure ALL  NZ Court proceedings are  recorded, with audio records available to parties who request them. 13) Legislate for a publicly-available NZ 'Register of Lobbyists, and  'Code of Conduct' for lobbyists. 14) Legislate for a 'post-separation employment' ('revolving door' ) quarantine period from the time officials leave the public service, to take up a similar role in the private sector.   15) Legislate to make it a lawful requirement that it is only a binding vote of the public majority that can determine whether public assets held at NZ central or local government are sold, or long-term leased via Public Private Partnerships. 16) Legislate to make it unlawful for politicians to knowingly misrepresent their policies prior to central or local government elections. 17) Legislate to protect individuals, NGOs and community-based organisations, who are 'whistle-blowing' against 'conflicts of interest' and and alleged corrupt practices at central and local government level and within the judiciary. 18) Legislate to prevent 'State Capture' - where vested interests get what they want, at the 'policy' level, before laws are passed which serve their vested interests. Policy of 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright. www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz                              Authorised by Penny Bright 86A School Rd Kingsland Auckland               Want to help?  e-mail - waterpressure@gmail.com

Woman throws out an Apple 1 computer worth $200,000, Russian government plans to develop its own mobile operating system, mining Twitter data for early warning, Apple rumoured to be announcing a music streaming service, the mystery behind Apple's unmarked vehicles.

Woman throws out an Apple 1 computer worth $200,000, Russian government plans to develop its own mobile operating system, mining Twitter data for early warning, Apple rumoured to be announcing a music streaming service, the mystery behind Apple's unmarked vehicles.

Woman throws out an Apple 1 computer worth $200,000, Russian government plans to develop its own mobile operating system, mining Twitter data for early warning, Apple rumoured to be announcing a music streaming service, the mystery behind Apple's unmarked vehicles.

William Ray explores what threats from cyberwarfare NZ faces in the virtual world

Transnational Corporations are moving in to NZ where once they were only multi national corporations.  The percentage of incursion into NZ is virtually the highest of any developed country on earth. They are dominating our country more and more as the laws of NZ are very laissez-faire and liberal, buying into established businesses that NZers have built and also buying up our land and housing as well. Generally it is open slather with very few exceptions. THe TPPA is a wolf in sheeps clothing and when you peruse:   http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/ you will get the picture. Big Time.Free trade agreements are actual investment agreements to provide the means for trans national corporations to acquire more power, profit, control and riches and wealth under the guise of Free Trade ...  NZ is being recolonised by Corporations.In NZ the banks are creaming it. Not one is suffering at present ANZ, with record profits same for Westpac.Subjects Covered:Corporate Welfare here in NZ,  namely Rio Tinto (the old Comalco) easily obtaining a $30 million dollar subsidy from the National Govt, by saying they will not close their smelter until 2017. Yet, they have a secret electric power deal that is far below the current rate for ordinary householders and ... the power that they take daily is equivalent to all the electrical power that is consumed by the city of Auckland. And they have been doing this for 50 years with every single government that has got into power. Note with no smelter, NZ would have huge amounts of excess power ...Other situations where the NZ government gave our hard earned tax dollars as enticements to, were, Skycity, Chorus, Fox Studious, Warner Bros etc. Note, Skycity's offer to build a National Convention Center as long as the Govt gives them umpteen poker machines to be unleashed on the public. And that this deal is LOCKED in for 35 years. That no Govt can ever reverse it no matter which Government gains power.Chorus who is rolling out the ultra fast broad band cable across the country was told by the NZ Government Commerce Commission that they have been overcharging all customers by $10 per month and that they had to repay their customers so instead, they cried that it would send them broke, so the government came in and helped them out.These are three examples of political interference and corporate welfare dictating how our elected Parliamentary servants represent, we the NZ citizens.Then there is corporate tax avoidance, last year it was announced a day before Xmas eve, that the NZ IRD, Inland Revenue Dept reached an 'out of court settlement' of $2.2 billion  dollars (around 80% of the total amount) with the 4 top Australian owned banks as they had previously dodged paying tax. This being the biggest tax avoidance case in NZ history. This was very hush hush, when in fact they all should have been taken to the highest court of the land. With an 'out of court settlement'they avoided penalty taxes and court costs ... very cunning.CAFCA also runs the Roger Awards for the Worst Transnational Corporation operating in NZ. The Roger award named after 'you know who' and is also represented by the pirate flag of the skull and cross bones called the unjolly Roger.  The banks are always in the finals, especially the ANZ. This year the Award was won by Rio Tinto, with Sky City 2nd and 3rd being Chorus. All 3 were judged as interfering with the Government and receiving backhanded - handouts.Note that in January 2014 in the Business Day column of the Christchurch Press it was stated that Facebook, Google and Apple made an estimated $750 million dollars in NZ  in the last tax year but only paid less than $4 million in tax. That works out as a tax rate of 0.4% yet the NZ company tax is 28%, how did they get around this?  NZ loses and CEO's and Shareholders of these transnationals win!And they are not paying their taxes in the USA either, using offshore tax havens ...In England the Tax Justice Network are looking at these deals - 'The price of offshore'. http://www.taxjustice.netThen there is the TPPA the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement and the loss of NZ's sovereignty as well as a plethora of circumstances that will effect our country across the board. See   www.itsourfuture.org.nzTPPA is also means to 'contain' China from the US perspective.  As the World Bank has just in the last week stated that China will overtake the USA as the worlds largest economy this year, and this is the first time that this has happened since 1872 when Britain was surpassed by the USA. Previous predictions were thought to be 2019 for China to make this break-through.Note, if PHARMAC here in NZ is abolished it will mean huge costs for drugs in this country. PHARMAC drugs here cost 1/3 of US costs and 1/2 Australian costs.Then we have the Security Apparatus, that composes 5 of the main countries of the 5 Eyes Echelon Communication Network. USA, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ.ABC     http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/The NZ GCSB  is increasingly doing the service as the subordinate and being even servile to the corporate agenda. In March 2013 the NZ Business Review stated that 'our spies principle mission used to be the defence of the realm, todays GCSB is about the protection of Corporate property and interests.'GCSB and the Dot com saga, tells the NZ community that there is much murk behind the scenes ...You can write to the director of the NZ SIS, Security Intelligence, Box 900 in Wellington and ask them if they have a file on you and ask for a copy of your file ...Other points of interest in this information packed interview:That the US now has access to all of NZ's tax records - the Law has been passed in Parliament ... passed in the last month or so .... who of us slept though this one?That there is a direct telephone line from the US State Department to Treasury in Wellington.That Wikileaks let out information that Americans wanted to allow NZ's spys to be connected directly to the Department of Homeland Security in the USA , however the NZ director of the SIS refused to approve it - so he was pushed out until someone more 'proactive' was employed.Also, in those Wikileaks documents there was evidence that the US embassy was given all hours access by being given actual swipe cards to get into the NZ buildings of Foreign Affairs and NZ Defence HQ in Wellington so that they could come in day or night and have access to certain people and records and that sort of  ... stuff.Note that the NZ legal definition of a foreign company is anything more than 24.9 %  yet our PM in saying we are only going to sell off 49% of Meridian and Mighty river power and Genesis, this is actually double the legal definition of a foreign company.*******I encourage all listeners this morning to open up your web browser to www.cafca.org.nz and peruse this site, then tell your friends and neighbours that we are losing our country.Murray has for 45 years, been at the forefront of educating the NZ public telling them that every week large slices of New Zealand's farms and city and suburban properties are being sold off to over seas entities. And much, much more.*********In 2012, the Overseas Investment Office approved the sale of 43,080 hectares of freehold rural land and 8,554 hectares of leases and other interests in land to foreigners. About 10,000 hectares of the freehold land and almost all the leases and other interests in land were from one foreign investor to another. In the decade 2003 to 2012, the average was 133,942 hectares of freehold and 60,435 hectares of leases and other interests in land approved for sale.Statistics on sales of land to overseas interests are poorly recorded and incomplete. Our best estimate is that in 2011 at least 8.7 percent of New Zealand farmland including forestry, or 1.3 million hectares, is foreign-owned or controlled and it could have reached 10 percent.(Overseas Investment Commission and Overseas Investment Office. "Overseas Ownership Of Land: Far Greater Than The 1% The PM Claims", by Bill Rosenberg)People's Rights Before Corporate ProfitPublic Service Not Private Profit An Independent Foreign Policy No Unjust Secret TreatiesThese topics include     *    transnational corporations' tax avoidance    *    corporate welfare    *    asset sales - NZ Farmland    *    spying abuses by the GCSB/NSA     *    the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA)     *    Five Eyes - Waihopai    *    plus plenty more Murray Will be speaking in AucklandFriday May 9th at:Pacific Media CentreSir Paul Reeves BuildingAuckland University of Technology4.00 p.m. Local Contact: David Robie 021 112-2079Full Itinerary here: http://2014cafcatour.blogspot.co.nz/p/blog-page.htmlWebsites of interest:http://www.celticnz.co.nz/transport/Time_Line.htmhttps://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/putting_big_brother_in _the_drivers_seat_v2v_transmitters_black_boxes_d

Steffan Browning, Green Party Member of Parliament. Spokesperson on: Organics, GE and GMO's, Fisheries,  Agriculture, Bio-security and Forestry.  PLUS, The Grand Daddy of them All: Security and Intelligence.Steffan has been at the forefront of the New Zealand organics movement for more than twenty years. His aim is to have genuinely sustainable organics in New Zealand's food, fibre, forestry and fishing industries - which he states, needs to be integrated from a holistic perspective and 'also makes good business sense'.Listen as Steffan divulges the challenges that organics face, on the front lines of GE untruths, agribusiness and the unknowingness of government of both holistic systems and sustainability.Hear the most powerful and potent statement in NZ's Parliament for decades as Steffan covers the descent on Wellington of multiple layers of the global security apparatus that coincided with the 1st Reading of the GCSB Bill, it's knock-on effect and connecting the dots as to how NZ is cavorting with loss of its sovereignty, enabling the matrix to hover over, and hoover our fast losing innocence as a global moral compass - defender of democracy and citizen rights. Covering the the machinations of the SECURITY & INTELLIGENCE BILL - THE GCSB BILL.Steffan Browning on the GCSB and Related Legislation Amendment Bill 21 Aug 2013 | Speech | Steffan Browning Green MPhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6kRIlhAftEI "I implore one of the 61 MPs who has previously supported this legislation to change at this vote and allow a full inquiry first. The Government has failed to provide a real justification for this fundamental attack on our democratic rights and freedoms, and the legislation facilitates the legal establishment of a surveillance State in New Zealand".This too is mentioned: NZ's increasing involvement with global military alliances, when we need to be an Advocate for Peace and Conflict Resolution.FOOD    GE FREE   Organic 2020The fight with Government inaction on GE in our imported fodder for cattle! GE Free New Zealand and our courageous volunteers battling big interests as of this moment.   www.gefree.org.nzGovernment inaction again regarding Food Labeling.That we still have very poor food labeling in NZ as GE and GMO labeling is only voluntary where it needs to be mandatory across the board.That 'Country of Origin' needs also to be clearly stated on the package, can, bottle as to where ingredients are grown/sourced etc.BIO- SECURITY:Pig Farmers and Bee keepers to combine to keep strong bio-security in place. Due to lax importation controls.Huge challenges here for NZ. Nearly 50% of our pork is imported (why?) and there are 'sars' related global health problems that could easily come in to NZ in raw cuts of pork.Border controls need to be strengthened far more stringently with more financial backing as shipping containers swamp the authorities and more lax controls are applied.More unknown diseases, viruses are entering NZ at present.FORESTRY:Current rorts in Carbon Credits around deforestation and dairying replacing trees.The adoption of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard shows that a national environmental standard is possible and the Government should advance one urgently.That 11 humans are equal to one cow in their capacity to ingest and excrete.  A conservative estimate is the number of dairy cows in NZ at present are equal to 66 million people inhabiting NZ, the same population as the UK.FISHERIES: Salmon, huge problems with Salmon farms, each ones 'waste' is the equivalent to a town of 40,000 people.Growing problems with sustainable fisheries in NZ due to vested interests and having to patrol our vast fishing grounds.1080 arial poison represents an ever-growing threat to New Zealand's 'clean, green' image, according to the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association.  How do the Greens position themselves to this when they are officially wanting an organic world? Steffan's answer to the vexing problem of possums.And much, more.Steffan Browning Green MP - Organic Sustainable NZ. This post needs to be seen by far more NZers - especially when we see where all of this is leading.  If we do nothing, the children of the future, will not be angry, they will be enraged!

Corporate control of our global food system is not in the interests of people or the environment. Fewer and fewer corporations control more and more of our food chain.Their interests are in making money, not feeding people good nourishing food. We need to establish a strong food democracy to halt the steady march of corporate agriculture.This interview includes Claire Bleakely, president of GE Free New Zealand and speaks about her trip to China where she heard world class scientists at the International Conference on Ethnic Food Cultures and Food Safety, (held in Kunming, China,) present on a broad range of topics from ethnic and cultural values of food, to the evidence of harm caused by genetically engineered (GE) foods.Claire went as a delegate from New Zealand along with Organics NZ Brendan Hoare, and Professor Jack Heinemann.Professor Jack Heinemann from Canterbury presented a 50-year comparison of agricultural methods in the US and Europe that shows the introduction of GE plants has impacted negatively on yields, diversity and pesticide use across America. HOWEVER: Tim Lynch and Lisa Er begin the programme with a discussion about the reasons for the DEMO 4 DEMOcracy this Sunday the 1st of September.Almost a dozen demonstrations from Keri Keri to Christchurch will be held this coming weekend to protest the continued loss of democracy in New Zealand.September 1st (the first day of Spring) is DEMO 4 DEMOcracy day, which will see family-friendly rallies throughout the country, inviting people to march under the banner of their choice, but in solidarity against the corporate take-over of our country, and New Zealanders’ blatant loss of sovereignty and democracy. Ten days of activities will continue the nationwide protests until September 11.This initiative was launched only a month ago by Kiwis Connect For a Positive Future and has already convinced over 760 members and a large following on Facebook that it is time for “Human Need not Corporate Greed.”  Much stress has been placed on the protests being peaceful, but not necessarily quiet: A suggestion to bang pots and pans has arisen following similar successful demonstrations in Argentina, Turkey, Canada and Iceland.The perception that this country has the least corruption and the most transparency globally, no longer rings true to many people. While voicing concerns to government, numerous issues are not being addressed – from the GCSB and asset sales to oil drilling, mining, the TPPA and GMO’s & GE to low wages. For information on the TPPA (Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement) go to http://www.itsourfuture.org.nzKiwis Connect aims to build awareness amongst the public about these issues and it is intended to keep the Facebook main page even after the event. It is not pushing any political party but is about building awareness of the issues that are damaging this country - and looking at how to correct them.The organisers hope New Zealanders will be united in integrity and peace, holding a banner for positive change for the good of everyone.Further information can be found at;http://kiwisconnect.org.nzor https://www.facebook.com/groups/359292997530222This programme is sponsored by www.theawarenessparty.com+++++++++++++++Please join DEMO 4 DEMOcracy Sept 1st!   at 2pm, across NZWe are Rallying and Connecting Kiwis, Nation Wide with the issues affecting the future of our communities, such as the corporate control and the erosion of our democratic rights and sovereignty. We stand for the basic principles of democracy, sustainability, social justice, and environmental integrity.Nearly every sector in NZ is under intense pressure from either Government inaction or its overt and covert collusion with corporate entities, especially its dismissive attitude to a society requiring authentic leadership and statesmanship as well as a level of genuine care and concern.Our Government is shrewdly laying siege to the NZ environment and people, under the increasingly shrill mantra of 'we have to make more money' by exploiting and extracting anything and everything. The earth our great sustainer as you know is under relentless assault, even as we intuitively realize we are at multiple tipping points within the magnificence of the straining biosphere.With the state sell off of public assets, insidious security and intelligence breaches, super secret trade deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, corporate encroachments and lobbying, secret military accords & harmonization of Laws with the USA, we the citizens of NZ are on the back foot.Low wages for workers, corporate infiltration into city councils, pharmaceutical corporations advertising directly on TV. No labeling of food sources, ingredients & processes, plus additional chemicals in municipal drinking water, failure to keep city air clear, unsafe food (GE and GMO's) unsustainable farming, destructive mining, corporate take-over of education, health and prisons & public services and the TPPA to bind it all in, all have the common theme of locking down our collective future.And more and more issues are being thrown at 'we the citizens.' Not to mention the Fukushima radiation continuously spewing into the Pacifist ocean, our deep blue Pacific that laps our shores, with every Government acquiescing and remaining extremely silent, including No Nuke groups.If we do not come together, and intelligently organize and unite the country by calling the government to account, it will only accelerate and get far worse!We do not need prophetic statements to tell us where this is could all go.The 1st of September Nationwide rally aims to cover all of the many issues that people see as important concerns and that are both affecting their lives as well as our countries future, especially our kids.(http://kiwisconnect.org.nz) Downtown Queen St AucklandNew Zealanders Intelligently Committing to Organise for our Common Future

NZ as one of the worlds pioneering democracies has a long record of engaging in peaceful protest and dialog to bring about inspirational and social change.Recent revelations made available from Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden have brought the realization that globally and especially to those of us in the West that we are totally immersed in a matrix-like security and intelligence apparatus that has been ticking silently and secretly in the background and over our shoulder. All under the guise of Big Brother - watching us.Other than the French saboteurs and the Israeli passport spies, we in NZ have fortunately had no terrorist incursions. Thus the premise is put forward that with no external threat to Nuclear Free NZ, that the NZ intelligence community can, and is being used to spy on NZ radicals by the SIS. The Security Intelligence Services.What is a NZ radical, and what threat if any are they to the State apparatus? Keith Locke who recently was able to view a copy of his NZ security files was spied on by NZ Government agencies since the age of 11 years. Now with invasive electronic means what is the future of NZers going to be like in NZ with the passing of the GCSB Bill? (Government Communications Security Bureau). Connecting the:      DOTS  … _ _ _ …In 2011 Kim Dotcom, a German was living in NZ as a new resident (in the Prime Ministers own electorate) and was running his Megaupload Internet company that was alleged to be illegal pirating copyrighted digital media, globally etc.On information from the US authorities and the FBI, NZ Police made a spectacular raid on Dotcom's home in January 2012 and arrested him.The NZ courts ruled that the raid was illegal due to the fact that it was unlawful for the GCSB to spy on a NZ resident, especially as correct protocols were not being observed by the police.The fall out resulted in the director of the GCSB being replaced by a new recruit.Ian Fletcher was appointed as director of the GCSB in February 2012. Mr Fletcher is a former diplomat. Fletcher was interviewed by the appointment panel after an earlier short-list of four candidates had been rejected by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the State Services Commissioner. In March 2013, Mr Key admitted he had known Mr Fletcher since they were in school, but denied they were friends.Answering questions in Parliament about Mr Fletcher's appointment, Key said he hadn't 'seen the guy in a long time' and hadn't mentioned he had made a phone call to Mr Fletcher when the question first came up in Parliament because he had 'forgotten' about it. Former GCSB director Sir Bruce Ferguson said the way Key had intervened in the selection process was 'disturbing'.In December 2012, the NZ High Court ruled Kim Dotcom could sue the GCSB for damages.Hence Dotcom is in the forefront of the NZers wanting far more transparency in how the government oversee security and intelligence in this country.This GCSB Bill is opposed by the opposition Labour and the Green party, the NZ First Party and several left-wing groups, ESPECIALLY the NZ Law Society, and the Human Rights Tribunal, plus NZer of the year Dame Anne Salmond and ex Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer.NOTE:As the Prime Minister appoints both the director of the GCSB and the Inspector General. Associate Professor of law at Auckland University, Bill Hodge, says the watchdog should be appointed by Parliament rather than by the Prime Minister. Former prime minister, Sir Geoffrey Palmer agrees: 'There needs to be some separation between the inspector and the agency he overseas'.With this legislation being put through under urgency, WHY is there such urgency?Some important clues come through in this interview.Evidence is also available that if one had too left wing a viewpoint your career would be affected by information collected by the SIS. Promotion would not come and visas may not be forthcoming from the USA for instance.We learn how innocent people can be affected by spying, that spirals out of control due to a certain mind set of biases and prejudices and the urgency of checks and balances from a judiciary that administer the law of the land in an enlightened manner - is a must!On another issue, it is important for NZers to also realize that Parliament basically has no say in Treaties. Governments and bureaucrats make treaties, but Members of Parliament basically have no say hence the TPPA the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement if signed of will be done only by Cabinet, who are hand picked by the Prime Minister.(Authors statement. Personally as a NZer I am not an illegal downloader of copyrighted media and definitely do not make money out of it. I as a person on the sidelines saw Dotcom as milking the system in huge terms and living high on the hog whilst half the world starved.  The macabre in this saga is; from being an outlaw, Dotcom (with his money) has now been cast as the savior of the public good from the oppressive hand of local and global surveillance systems).

We discuss on demand video with Tim Martin (Coliseum Sports Media) and Seeby Woodhouse (Voyager Internet) then hear about the GCSB bill, Hyperloop, Martin Jetpack and an update on NZ’s Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiatives. Running time : 0:56:52