$3m bill so Government spies can tap your phone calls

The Government will pay about $3 million so calls from all land and mobile phone networks, as well as e-mails, can be intercepted, says Associate Justice Minister Paul Swain.

The Government indicated last year it would require public telecommunications networks to be interception-capable for law enforcement and security purposes.

However, it emerged that Vodafone's was not and police warned the Government that their ability to combat organised crime was being "seriously eroded" because of that.

Yesterday, Mr Swain outlined changes to be included in the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Bill.

The legislation will oblige network operators to be able to intercept communications going over their network, when authorised by a warrant from the police, the Government Communications Security Bureau or the Security Intelligence Service.

The legislation will affect all network operators, including internet service providers with their own customer networks.

"The Government will pay for the provision of interception capability for existing fixed and mobile voice networks to be implemented within 18 months from the date the legislation is enacted," Mr Swain said.

Network operators would meet the cost of upgrading their networks to provide for the interception of internet and e-mail services, with a five-year implementation period, and for new or extra fixed or mobile services.

The latter would have an 18-month implementation period.

The legislation would bring New Zealand into line with legal requirements already in place in such countries as the United States, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain.

- NZPA