Poster, 'No Spy Waihopai'

item details

NamePoster, 'No Spy Waihopai'

ProductionAnti-Bases Campaign; publisher; 1987-1988; New Zealand

Classificationpolitical posters

Materialspaper, ink

DimensionsOverall: 419mm (width), 228mm (height)

Registration NumberGH024560

Credit lineGift of the Estate of Ron and Carmen Smith, 2015

Overview

This poster provided information on the Waihopai satellite receiver in Marlborough (aka the 'Spy Base') which was built in 1988. The image suggests that New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB)* was supplying electronic intelligence directly to the United States.

Citizens’ groups, such as the Anti-Bases Campaign, have long questioned the activities of New Zealand’s intelligence agencies and the presence of foreign military and intelligence installations in New Zealand, including the United States 'Deep Freeze' military base at Harewood (Christchurch Airport), and the New Zealand intelligence gathering installations at Tangimoana (Manawatu) and Waihopai. Many protest actions have taken place at Waihopai since the first protest in February 1988.

*Te Tira Tiaki Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) collects and reports on foreign signals intelligence. The GCSB processes, decrypts or decodes intercepted communications, and works to keep New Zealand’s own information systems secure.