History
The Government Communications Security Bureau was created in 1977 on the instructions of Robert Muldoon, the Prime Minister. Prior to this, the functions now handled by the GCSB were split between three organisations:
- Communications security was the responsibility of the Communications Security Committee, based around the Prime Minister's office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Signals intelligence was the responsibility of the Combined Signals Organisation, run by the military.
- Anti-bugging measures were the responsibility of the Security Intelligence Service.
Upon its establishment, the GCSB assumed responsibility for these three roles. Officially, the new organisation was part of the Ministry of Defence, and its functions and activities were highly secret – even Cabinet was not informed. In the 1980s, however, information was gradually released, first about the GCSB's security role, and then about its signals intelligence operations.
Also in the 1980s, the GCSB was split away from the Ministry of Defence, becoming a separate organisation. It was not until 2000, however, that it was decided to make the GCSB a government department in its own right. This decision was implemented through the Government Communications Security Bureau Act of 2003.
In 2001, the Centre for Critical Infrastructure Protection was formed within the GCSB with a mandate to assist in the protection of national critical infrastructure from information borne threats.
On 30 April 2008 one of the domes of the Waihopai base was attacked with sickles by activists of Anzac Ploughshares causing an estimated NZ$1 million damage. The activists readily admitted the attack in court but were found not guilty due to their defence of claim of right.
In 2012 the GCSB was found to have illegally spied on Kim Dotcom, a German national but New Zealand resident. By law the agency cannot spy on New Zealand residents.
In November 2012, the GCSB admitted its acting director at the time of the Dotcom operation, Hugh Wolfensohn, knew the organisation was spying on him. It is believed Mr Wolfensohn was placed on "gardening leave" after it became clear the GCSB had made a mistake in spying on Dotcom, and he now faces being fired.
A police investigation into the GCSB's illegal activities is due on November 15, 2012.
Read more about this topic: Government Communications Security Bureau
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