Key to boost SIS powers - full speech

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Mon, 06 Dec 2010 4:30p.m.

Prime Minister John Key made the announcement this afternoon

Prime Minister John Key made the announcement this afternoon

By Deanna Harris

The Security Intelligence Service is to get greater powers to snoop into personal computers and electronically track people in their vehicles.

Prime Minister John Key has introduced the New Zealand SIS amendment bill designed to update the New Zealand Security and Intelligence Service Act 1969.

“The original legislation is over 40 years old and modernising it is long overdue,” says Mr Key.

“The bill updates the warrants framework, paying particular attention to electronic tracking devices, computer surveillance and technologies like mobile phones and cyber identities. In practice this does not change the threshold to obtain a warrant.

“In New Zealand the SIS currently issues approximately between 11 and 15 domestic warrants each year and I don’t expect number to alter because of the change in legislation.

“What the amendments do is bring the legal and technological framework around the New Zealand SIS up to date.”

The bill will have its first reading on Thursday.

Watch Prime Minister John Key’s full speech.

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Comments

06 Apr 2011 01:48p.m.

Paddy wrote:

Anybody that calls the system of government in New Zealand a democracy is sadly mistaken (Look the word up) Every three years you get to vote who will dictate to you for the next 3 years. we have absolutely no say, and are treated like kiddies that cant be trusted, where as in fact, it is a sucession of governments that have shown that it is they, who can not be trusted we used to be led ...now we are "managed", and trated like mushrooms. Every year more svere and draconian laws than the year before. New Zealand is fast turning in to a Police state see you all in jail

07 Dec 2010 06:10a.m.

Mat wrote:

We have lost more freedoms under this administration.

06 Dec 2010 08:00p.m.

The_Watcher wrote:

Why don't they just make it mandatory to put government surveillance cameras in our private households? It's almost the same thing. John Key and the National party obviously want to take over NZ. They need to go. If this bill gives the SiS more power to watch us, I'll be moving to a VPN. Blow me National.

06 Dec 2010 06:21p.m.

Kim wrote:

Any attempt to increase the govt ability to spy on private peoples affairs should be considered very carefully. The state does not have the right to spy on its citizens fishing for information.
The recent wikileaks documents should give an idea about the honesty of these services and the likely abuse of power.
Typical national.