I see that this Bill has been "in the mill" for some time, but I've sent emails to my MP, the privacy commissioner and the the human rights commission and just received the last, most incredibly silly, reply. Now they all say (words to the effect of) "well, this is OK with us, and the government DOES have the power to do this you know".

So I thought - as this has received very little publicity - let you know what is going on. Here's a link to an article on it (I felt it was more comprehensive than the Bill itself):

State agency spy powers 'chilling' - page 1 - National - NZ Herald News

I think it is absolutely horrifying. Maybe someone else does too, though I am flabbergasted at the number of people who hide behind the ridiculous mantra of "I've got nothing to hide, so why should I fear?". That saying has been ridiculed so many times and everybody should be so embarrassed to utter it, with a straight face too, as they always do.

have found three news items on it (and you'd think for something so draconian, it would warrant far more publicity) and it stands out to me that in all these news items the Bill is presented to us as "fait accompli". One news item mentions "have your say" but I rather gather they are really saying "you can't really do or say anything at all about this, but you may be allowed to have a say on the colour of the microphone that will be used to record your private conversations, or the colour of the man's tie who will be hacking into your computer)? Is that the case?

I feel I must point out that no "reason" is being given by anyone for any of these "powers" to be given. There has not been a "problem" mentioned that needs "solving" by "further powers to government departments". Was the Human Rights Commission given a "reason"? Or is it really a case of "a solution looking for a problem"?

I see also that the Privacy Commissioner said "the Bill needs more safeguards". Well, the thing is the Bill doesn't "need more safeguards" at all, it needs to be laughed out of existance. It is utterly hideous and about as anti-human rights as you could get.

My particular concerns are as follows:

Video surveillance - watching private activity on private property - does that enable "peeping Tom" behaviour by government employees?

Power to hack into computers remotely - I have yet to read anywhere why any government department would want, let alone be granted, this power. Do you have any idea?

However, the "biggie" is THE POWER TO STOP VEHICLES WITHOUT A WARRANT FOR A SEARCH.

The police do not even have that power at the moment. So are you OK with a lot of government departments having warrantless search powers of vehicles?

What does anyone else think?