New Zealand's secrets from 20 years ago released
{{date|January 16, 2006}} 
{{New Zealand}}
The [[w:New Zealand Government|New Zealand Government]] is to investigate how 20-year-old top secret papers were released. They show that [[w:New Zealand|New Zealand]] was spying on the communications of [[w:Argentina|Argentina]], [[w:Soviet Union|the Soviet Union]], [[w:East Germany|East Germany]], [[w:France|France]], [[w:Egypt|Egypt]], [[w:Japan|Japan]], [[w:North Korea|North Korea]], [[w:Vietnam|Vietnam]], [[w:Laos|Laos]],  [[w:Philippines|the Philippines]], [[w:Fiji|Fiji]], [[w:Tonga|Tonga]], [[w:Solomon Islands|the Solomon Islands]],  [[w:South Africa|South Africa]] and even [[w:United Nations|the United Nations]] diplomatic cables.

The leak came when a copy of the [[w:Government Communications Security Bureau|Government Communications Security Bureau's]] (GCSB) 1985-1986 annual report was found among the personal papers of former [[w:New Zealand Prime Minister|New Zealand Prime Minister]] [[w:David Lange|David Lange]]. After [[w:New Zealand Cabinet|Cabinet]] signed off, they were released by [[w:Archives New Zealand|Archives New Zealand]]. 

According to intelligence expert [[w:Nicky Hager|Nicky Hager]], "This is the most secret report and most revealing one ever to come to the public."

Duty Minister [[w:Jim Anderton|Jim Anderton]] says the report should have been returned to the GCSB after David Lange had read it. "There'll be some investigation by officials as to how the report was not returned and was just left in the archive like this for people to stumble over... I think there'll be some concern about that."

The report also shows that the [[w:United States|United States]] threatened to spy on New Zealand if New Zealand didn't back down on its anti-nuclear legislation.

In 1984 after the New Zealand government passed laws that stop [[w:nuclear-powered|nuclear-powered]] or [[w:nuclear-armed|nuclear-armed]] ships from using New Zealand ports, the United States announced that it was stripping New Zealand of allied status until [[w:United States Navy|United States Navy]] ships were re-admitted to New Zealand ports.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/bulletins/radionz/200601160946/31cab411
|title=Investigation launched into leak of Lange papers
|author=
|pub=Radio New Zealand
|date=January 16, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3541896a10,00.html
|title=Investigation into spy report's release 
|author=
|pub=NZPA
|date=January 16, 2006}}

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[[Category:New Zealand]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Nuclear weapons]]
[[Category:Soviet Union]]

[[sv:Topphemliga nyzeeländska dokument offentliggjorda av misstag]]
The New Zealand Government is to investigate how 20-year-old top secret papers were released. They show that New Zealand was spying on the communications of Argentina, the Soviet Union, East Germany, France, Egypt, Japan, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos,  the Philippines, Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands,  South Africa and even the United Nations diplomatic cables.

The leak came when a copy of the Government Communications Security Bureau's (GCSB) 1985-1986 annual report was found among the personal papers of former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange. After Cabinet signed off, they were released by Archives New Zealand. 

According to intelligence expert Nicky Hager, "This is the most secret report and most revealing one ever to come to the public."

Duty Minister Jim Anderton says the report should have been returned to the GCSB after David Lange had read it. "There'll be some investigation by officials as to how the report was not returned and was just left in the archive like this for people to stumble over... I think there'll be some concern about that."

The report also shows that the United States threatened to spy on New Zealand if New Zealand didn't back down on its anti-nuclear legislation.

In 1984 after the New Zealand government passed laws that stop nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships from using New Zealand ports, the United States announced that it was stripping New Zealand of allied status until United States Navy ships were re-admitted to New Zealand ports.

*
New Zealand Oceania Politics and conflicts Nuclear weapons Soviet Union