New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau operates what it describes as a satellite communications monitoring facility in the Waihopai Valley.[1][2] First announced in 1987, the facility has been identified by MP Keith Locke[3] as part of ECHELON, the worldwide network of signals interception facilities run by the UKUSA consortium of intelligence agencies (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the Intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ).[4]
Operations
It contains two satellite interception dishes (shielded by giant domes)[5]. Few details of the facility are known, but it is believed that it intercepts and processes all phone calls, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications. It is thought that this data is then sorted and shared with the other members of the UKUSA group. The Waihopai station is a sister operation to a similar facility run at Tangimoana.
References
