Tangimoana spy base reorganisation planned

A planned reorganisation by secretive intelligence agency the Government Communications Security Bureau may mean changes at its Tangimoana radio spy base.

Staff at Tangimoana, about 150km north of Wellington, were told yesterday that a reorganisation is about to get under way which may affect some employees.

However, there were no plans to shut down the radio communications interception facility, GCSB deputy director of corporate services Hugh Wolfensohn told NZPA.

The bureau aimed to improve efficiency, but it was too early to say if job cuts would result, he said.

Some staff may be relocated.

"We've only just kicked off a process, and I would add that that's what the staff were told there yesterday -- that this is the very beginning of a process which amongst other things, of course, involves consultation."

It was likely to be weeks rather than months, depending on the consultation process.

"The station is a classified facility involved in work that relates to New Zealand's national security - we're very limited in what we can say publicly about what goes on there," Mr Wolfensohn said.

Staff were told personally by director Sir Bruce Ferguson.

Tangimoana is a sister base to the Waihopai satellite communications interception station near Blenheim.

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager said it did not appear the base was going to be closed down, although its importance had lessened.

Tangimoa had been reorganised about 14 years ago when more than 100 staff worked there, he said.

Unlike at Waihopai, where the work was largely done using computers, staff monitored communications at Tangimoana. However, there was less radio traffic as satellites were increasingly relied on, he said.

"It's become less labour intensive as the number of targets close down."

He expected Tangimoana to become a less specialised base, carrying out a variety of tasks such as training navy people in electronics work.

The union representing government employees, the Public Service Association, was aware of the reorganisation.

About 340 people are employed by the GCSB, with the main operational areas head office, Waihopai and Tangimoana.

- NZPA