The chief of staff of the former Prime Minister of Solomon Islands says New Zealand's foreign minister should be ashamed over revelations of spying on diplomats' email and mobile phone communications.
Robert Iroga says New Zealanders needs to ask themselves if it would be appropriate for the Solomon Islands to spy on them.
Documents show New Zealand set up a listening post in its embassy in Honiara to collect emails from former and current government employees.
Mr Iroga says New Zealand has broken international law and standards, and he suspected during bilateral meetings that diplomats had seen his emails.
"McCully shouldn't be underplaying this. This is a serious issue and his government is spying on another sovereign state. Imagine if Solomon Islands was doing that to New Zealand, what the reaction would be. So we don't have any hard powers, we don't have any strong soft powers to counter what New Zealand is doing but they should be ashamed of what they are doing. McCully should be ashamed of himself for spying on our people."
Robert Iroga says the Solomons Government needs to immediately remove the spying equipment.
The Solomon Islands coat of arms on Parliament building in Honiara Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins