Badge, 'No Spy Waihopai'

item details

NameBadge, 'No Spy Waihopai'

ProductionAnti-Bases Campaign; producer; circa 1988; New Zealand

Classificationbadges

Materialspaper, ink, plastic, metal

DimensionsOverall: 44mm (width), 44mm (height), 4mm (depth), 44mm (diameter)

Registration NumberGH024487

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

Overview

This badge protests against the Waihopai satellite receiver in Marlborough (aka the 'Spy Base'). The image suggests that New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau was supplying secret military information to the United States.

Protests

Citizens’ groups have long questioned the activities of New Zealand’s intelligence agencies and the presence of foreign military and intelligence installations in New Zealand: the United States 'Deep Freeze' military base at Harewood (Christchurch Airport); and the New Zealand intelligence gathering installations at Tangimoana (Manawatu) and Waihopai. Protests have been held against the GCSB Waihopai facility since before construction started in 1987.

Government Communications Security Bureau

The 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. The minister in charge of the GCSB is the prime minister.