VIDEO: A look inside the security dome

New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) has marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of its satellite communications interception station at Waihopai in Marlborough, by releasing a short video that takes us inside one of its domes.

The Director-General of the GCSB, Andrew Hampton, leads us through the airlock doors to explain details of the 18-metre dish and the dome that covers it, what the dish is used for and the strong controls on GCSB’s intelligence-gathering activity.

“GCSB exists to protect and enhance New Zealand’s national security and wellbeing,” Hampton said.

“GCSB provides intelligence in accordance with priorities that are set by the government, which is then used to inform decision-making and policy.”

Hampton goes on to explain that the intelligence GCSB collects must be gathered “in line with the strict rules in the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, collected under a legal warrant, and is subject to robust and independent oversight from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security”.

“The nature of GCSB’s role means we often can’t make details of our work public because that would make us less effective in our role,” he said. “We are continuing to make more information about our work public where we can.”