The investigative journalist Nicky Hager says New Zealand's spying on diplomats from Solomon Islands is 'not a good look'.
Documents show New Zealand set up a listening post in its embassy in Honiara to listen in on the mobile phone network and collect emails from former and current government employees, including Robert Iroga, Dr Philip Tagini, Barnabas Anga and Fiona Indu.
Mr Hager says he was shocked that such people were on New Zealand's radar.
"I found that it's probably the most shocking thing I discovered in the Pacific, which was that these were not terrorists, or highly corrupt politicians or any excuse like that. These seem to be extremely respectable people who were working in the best interests of their country, either as public servants or in one case as an anti-corruption campaigner. And it doesn't look good for the New Zealand spy agency that they were targeting them."
Nicky Hager says he believes the New Zealand Foreign Minister has been leaning on Pacific governments not to react to the spying revelations.
The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB)'s spy base at Waihopai, near Blenheim. Photo: SUPPLIED