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Will Kiwis ever get justice over spying saga?
Tue, 22nd Jul 2014
FYI, this story is more than a year old

New Zealanders who were illegally spied on by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) will probably never get their justice, says the Green Party.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) last week released its findings on whether the Police were negligent in their duty to not prosecute anyone in the GCSB over the spying saga.

The IPCA concluded the Police were not wrong.

"The IPCA did not look at the issue which formed the crux of the complaint, which is, did the Police rely on the wrong interpretation of the law when deciding not to prosecute" questions Russel Norman, co-leader, Green Party.

"How can someone go to Court on the issue when a person doesn't even know if they have been spied on or not? The IPCA, in part of their report, concluded the matter was not for the Police but for the Courts.

"How can someone go to Court on the issue when a person doesn't even know if they have been spied on or not? The whole process is a catch-22.

"The report gives a green light for illegal spying because the system has set itself up to be impenetrable to inquiries for justice.

"Our Government and intelligence agencies are just dodging a bullet on what has been shown to be a major mess up."

According to Norman, there is "no justice" for at least 88 New Zealanders who were spied on.

"No one has been, and no one will be, held to account," he claims.

"The message that is being sent is: if a citizen acts illegally you get in trouble, but if the Government acts illegally, they get off scot free.

"The Green Party reiterates its call that there needs to be an open and independent inquiry into the matter and an overhaul of our intelligence agencies."