Is Key's credibility on the line over Dotcom case?

In being responsible for the Security Intelligence Service, Prime Minister John Key needs to front up to New Zealanders about the increasingly murky process surrounding Kim Dotcom's residency.

That's the view of Labour's Associate Intelligence and Security Spokesperson Grant Robertson, who questions the actions of the government in relation to the Megaupload founder.

"As Minister responsible for the SIS it defies belief that John Key would not have been informed about a case involving an FBI investigation and a multi-millionaire applicant with criminal convictions," Robertson claims.

"The SIS had put a hold on the application for some months. That was removed 90 minutes after warnings of ‘political pressure’ about the case.

"This looks extremely dodgy and, as the Minister responsible for the agency John Key's credibility is on the line."

Robertson believes the New Zealand public are owed the full story from the Prime Minister and his Ministers.

"At every stage of this affair details have had to be dragged out and half-truths and evasions have been the best the Government could come up with," he adds.

“It's time for National to stop playing politics and front up to New Zealanders.

"Whatever spin is being employed now, it is clear from the new documents released yesterday that officials felt under ‘political pressure’ at the time the application was being considered.

"The involvement of the Chief Executive of Immigration and the Head of the SIS shows the level that this matter was being dealt with.

"The National government stands accused of once again interfering in supposedly independent processes and playing politics with the security of New Zealand. John Key has some explaining to do."