PM's Post-Cab: Northland By-Election & GCSB in the Pacific

Post-Cabinet Press Conference on the Northland By-Election and GCSB in the Pacific

In a press conference held today in Wellington, Prime Minister John Key discussed the upcoming Northland By-Election and allegations of the GCSB conducting mass spying in the Pacific.

[Update - Full Transcript: Transcript PM's Post-Cabinet Press Conference: 9 March 2015]

Key said that National will keep its promise to upgrade 10 one-way bridges in Northland even if National candidate Mark Osborne loses in the election.

Key speculated that Andrew Little and Winston Peters had “done a deal” to give Labour support to Peters, although Little has never explicitly stated this was Labour’s intention.

“We’re in government and we can do things, he’s an opposition and he can just yap on about things,” said Key, regarding Peters' promises to the Northland electorate.

Asked whether the Northland bridges promise was simply part of Government policy, Key conceded that it would not have announced the decision if there were not a by-election.

Key maintained a distinction between collection and surveillance for the GCSB. On August 19th 2013 Key promised that he would resign if the GCSB were found conducting mass-surveillance on New Zealanders.

The Prime Minister remained adamant that the GCSB cannot legally and logistically collect information on a mass scale and cannot surveil New Zealand citizens without a warrant.

ENDS

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