Information in CIA documents about New Zealand came from note-taking in diplomatic meetings and not spying, the US Ambassador to New Zealand Mark Gilbert says.
"The characterisation of the US spying on New Zealand is mischaracterisation I think of what that's all about," Gilbert told the Herald.
"Everybody diplomatic meeting you walk into there are always note-takers and usually there are note-takers on both sides and there are even times when note-takers will compare notes.
"After every meeting they will write up what happened in the conversation so a broader audience will know and when you read what is written there, that is just note-taking from meetings or perceptions from people who got to meet different players of that era.
"I can categorically tell you that the United States does not spy on New Zealand and New Zealand does not spy on the United States."