Spy agency under strain during 2004, report says

New Zealand's intelligence-gathering capabilities were under strain this year supporting Defence Force units deployed abroad, according to the annual report of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB).

The secretive organisation's report was tabled in Parliament today, and as usual it reveals very little about its operations.

Director Warren Tucker said in his overview that 2004 was "particularly busy and challenging".

"A significant focus of the GCSB's operations throughout the year has been the provision of intelligence and information systems security support to deployed elements of the New Zealand Defence Force," he said.

"This has presented some significant technical challenges, which have been successfully overcome, but it has also placed some strain on resources particularly in the first half of the year."

During the period covered by the report -- the year up to June 30, 2004 -- the NZDF had significant deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Solomon Islands.

There were smaller units in a number of other trouble spots around the world.

Mr Tucker said in his report the GCSB successfully obtained "significant additional funding for a range of capability enhancement" during the year.

He reported considerable effort going into "enhanced language training for intelligence analysts" without saying which languages the effort went into.

The GCSB's infrastructure was improved, with a new 7.3m antenna at the Waihopai listening station and "important advances" in other capabilities.

"Throughout the year the bureau has continued to play its full part in the international partnership. Collaboration and co-operation, particularly on counter-terrorism, is extremely strong," Mr Tucker said.

- NZPA