Reference List

Edwards, S. (2013) Objection letter on the GCSB bill to the Governer-General. Retrieved September 20, 2013 from:
 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1308/S00158/objection-letter-on-the-gcsb-bill-to-the-governor-general.htm

Mandeno, G. (2013) Open letter to John Key. Retrieved September 20, 2013 from: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11111371

Young, A. (2013) Key vs Dotcom. Retrieved September 22, 2013 from:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10898501

Quilliam, R. (2013) GCSB spying illegal, but no charges laid. Retrieved September 22 from:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11116460

Stop the GCSB bill. (2013) Retrieved September 23 from:
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/18522351/labour-doesnt-buy-keys-gcsb-assurance/

Davidson, I. (2013) Three-quarters of Kiwis concerned about GCSB bill. Retrieved September 23 from:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11112107

John Key defends the GCSB bill. (2013) Retrieved from September 23 from:
http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Key-defends-the-GCSB-bill/tabid/817/articleID/309018/Default.aspx

Conclusion

In conclusion, the new GCSB legislation will affect everyone in New Zealand. As citizens of a free country, it is not just our rights to vote and and protest against these things, it is an obligation to ensure our government is transparent, gives a fair go to all kiwis, and not allow them to pass legislation that is essentially a breach of our Bill of Rights, our democracy, and our civil liberties. As John Key said in his speech back in 2007 "We should rightly be proud of our democracy. It is a very real New Zealand achievement and we should celebrate it. A lot of other countries never made it. Plenty have tired democracy and let it slip through their fingers. Other countries never had the chance."

Public thoughts on the new bill

The public opinion of the new legislation is very mixed, with three-quarters of New Zealanders being concerned. This comes as a surprise as John Key believed that Kiwi's had little or no thoughts on the GCSB bill. But this bill is something that will affect all of us citizens, our privacy and freedom is being breached, there is no possible way Kiwi's would have little or no thoughts on this issue. There has been many backlash aimed towards the Prime Minister regarding this matter. In 2007 the Prime Minister gave a speech about how we, the citizens will get the democracy we deserve, but now we are introduced to the GCSB bill. When this bill was announced there has been protests in not only Auckland but other major cities. "There are times when we have to stand up for our rights, and the rights of our neighbors and friends" this is what the Prime Minister said in the speech he gave in 2007, these protests are a direct signal to John Key that us, the citizens are not happy with this bill and are rising up to fight against this threat of our democracy. This bill is very important to regular citizens. It is important for the media to constantly analyze the government in order to keep a level of transparency. It is important because it's a basic function of a democratic society. This is why people enjoy such a high degree of liberty in New Zealand. We might think that the government wont care about our racial views or some politically incorrect babble, but think again, it will all be recorded and will be there ready when we make a mistake.
The public is also realizing that the government, and in particular, John Key is misleading the country, either through incompetence, ignorance, or deception. This was made clear numerous times during the interview on Campbell Live, as the Prime Minister either did not understand the GCSB bill or he was misleading the public when he appeared on the show.

Opposition to the GCSB bill

On the 8th of May 2013, Prime Minister John Key had introduced the new GCSB bill. With this announcement there has been many backlash coming from other parties especially from Labour leader David Shearer and Green Party co-leader Russel Norman. They have argued that with this new bill, New Zealanders have restricted freedom and expression of their rights to live without surveillance. New Zealand is a country that enjoys relative freedom and peace, however now that the Government can spy on everyday Kiwi's this has become a threat to our democracy and our lives. Although John Key has stated that before someones metadata can be collected a warrant must be issued by the Prime Minister himself and the Commissioner of Security Warrants, still does not satisfy the other parties. Labour leader David Shearer states that "basically the Prime Minister is asking New Zealanders to trust him and they shouldn't take their privacy on trust". 

Kim Dotcom and the Government

The whole issue of the GCSB bill became apparent when they had illegally spied on Kim Dotcom and later raided his mansion in January 2012. Although the GCSB had spied illegally, there were no charges laid, while a illegal interception had occurred police investigation states no one will be prosecuted because there is no evidence of any intention to act illegally. In response to the findings there was disappointments because no one was held accountable for the breach. Something can be said when the Government spies can break the law and not account for it, it also appears to be different standards for Government spies compared to the rest of New Zealand in terms of obeying the law. Kim Dotcom claims that the Prime Minister wanted to change the GCSB bill so that he can lawfully spy on him, while Key states that even with the law change it would still be illegal. The bill will allow GCSB to lawfully spy on New Zealanders when its helping another agency that has acquired a warrant to help with whatever activity they need help with. Under the proposed law, if the police have reason to believe a serious enough offence is being committed they can get a interception warrant and ask the GCSB to spy of the target with their special equipment. In this respect, Kim Dotcom is correct about the GCSB being able to spy on him lawfull

y.

Introduction

The GCSB bill is threatening Kiwi's rights to their freedom and privacy.


The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) bill was introduced on May 2013 by Prime Minister John Key. This legislation extends the powers of the GCSB to enable it to collect information from all New Zealanders for the use of other government departments including the New Zealand Police, Defense Force, and the Security Intelligence Service. Under the bill there are three functions: information assurance and cyber security; foreign intelligence; and assisting other agencies. With the introduction to this bill there have been back lash from opposing parties and the public.

Articles related to the GCSB bill.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9064984/Demystifying-the-GCSB-bill-Spies-and-lies
The main points that were stated in this article is that the new bill can spy on New Zealanders under the guise of preventing cyber attacks or on behalf of law enforcement agencies. Also states that the bill is to allow the GCSB to carry out activities that were previously illegal unlawful.New Zealand is part of the "five eyes" spying alliance which also includes America, Australia, Canada, and Britain.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/8968449/Why-you-should-care-about-GCSB-bill
Introducing this bill is risky territory for the New Zealand government, because it is a country that enjoys relative peace. The government will be able to spy on everyday kiwis and this is a threat to our democracy and rights.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11112152
The three functions for the bill is:
1) Information assurance
2) Foreign intelligence
3) Assisting other agencies
 There would be a two step process for a warrant , and that a warrant to look at content would be with the consent of the New Zealander unless there was a good reason not to seek consent.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11111371
In 2007 John Key gave a speech out New Zealanders and the democracy we deserve. But with the GCSB bill, it allows the prime minister and his commissioners, to monitor the meta-communications of all New Zealanders both between themselves and other parties overseas. This bill is dangerous for all of us individuals, it is dangerous for our democracy and is dangerous for New Zealand.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10909154
The bill will expand its powers of the Government Communications Security Bureau(GCSB) to spy on New Zealanders. Greens co-leader wanted to prevent the GCSB helping SIS, police or defense force to spy on NZ, saying it was never the intention of the current law.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10897315
Human rights commissioner believes the GCSB's powers to spy on individuals lacks sufficient checks against abuse of power or transparency and accountability.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10909154

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10913479

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10894959

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876779