The spy agency watchdog of New Zealand will investigate the alleged mass surveillance of the Government Communications Security Bureau, or GCSB, on New Zealanders living or travelling in the South Pacific. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has previously said he will resign from the post if the spy agency was proven to have been involved in the mass collection of data.

Investigative journalist and Dirty Politics author Nicky Hager has claimed that the GCSB spies on all communications in the Pacific. He said New Zealand’s spy agency collects data then passes it to the United States.

TVNZ reports that spying on the Pacific is not illegal but the GCSB is not allowed to spy on New Zealander citizens. Cheryl Gwyn, Inspector General of Intelligence and Security, said the watchdog will investigate the recent allegations about the spying of the GCSB.

In a statement, Gwyn said the spying complaints and Hager’s revelations have raised “wider questions” about how communications data is collected, stored and shared. “I will be addressing the specific complaints that I have received, in accordance with the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security Act of 1996,” declared Gywn.

She has also decided to not only investigate the allegations but audit and review the GCSB procedures and compliance systems. Gwyn said she has informed the acting director of GCSB about the inquiry. She gave an assurance that she will release her findings to the public and withhold only sensitive information that might endanger national security.

The inspector general said the GCSB acting director was willing to give the spy agency’s full cooperation. The New Zealand Greens welcomed the investigation after the party admitted to filing a complaint on the GCSB’s activities in the South Pacific.

Greens party co-leader Russel Norman said the allegations against the GCSB were “very serious” and the inquiry was a result of the complaints from concerned citizens. Norman believes the allegations need to be examined by an independent body. He added that New Zealanders have made more than 1.6 million visits to the Pacific since 2009.

The allegations of mass surveillance are based from the information released by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Mr Key said he was "not fearful" of the investigation since he remains confident that the spy agency acted within the law, reports Stuff. Former GCSB chief Bruce Ferguson had admitted in previous reports that New Zealand’s spy agency has been engaging in the mass collection of data.

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