New Zealand is conducting mass spying on its South Pacific neighbours then passing the information to a US-led intelligence alliance , media reports citing leaked documents said Thursday . New Zealand snoops on the phone calls , emails , Internet browsing sessions and online chats of government ministers and senior officials in Pacific island nations , including French territories in the region , the New Zealand Herald reported . Western interest in the South Pacific has risen in recent years as China increases aid and diplomatic activities in a region that New Zealand and Australia traditionally regard as their sphere of influence . Scroll down for video . Leaked documents supplied by Edward Snowden reportedly showed the extent of New Zealand 's spying . New Zealand Prime Minister John Key ( left ) refused to offer comment on the specifics of the allegations but said intelligence services had broken no laws , while Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva ( right ) claims such a programme would be a 'breach of trust ' The newspaper said documents supplied by US whistleblower Edward Snowden showed the extent of New Zealand 's spying on behalf of the 'Five Eyes ' intelligence network , which also includes the United States , Britain , Australia and Canada . 'In effect , the New Zealand spy agency gathers information on the country 's nearest neighbours to help secure its place in the US-led alliance , ' the New Zealand Herald said after conducting a joint investigation into the leaks with US-based website The Intercept . Separately , the Sydney Morning Herald said the documents also revealed New Zealand and Australian intelligence services worked together to spy on Indonesia 's largest mobile phone network Telkomsel . The Intercept said New Zealand 's Government Communications Security Bureau ( GCSB ) used its Waihopai base in the country 's South Island to collect vast amounts of data from the region , most of it from friendly nations . New Zealand is conducting mass spying on its South Pacific neighbours then passing the information to a US-led intelligence alliance , media reports say citing leaked documents . It said the base was upgraded to 'full take ' operations in 2009 , meaning it collects both the content and metadata of all communications , rather than targeting specific individuals or agencies . Nations reportedly subjected to New Zealand 's wholesale snooping included Fiji , Samoa , Tonga , the Solomons Islands , the Cook Islands , Kiribati , Vanuatu , Nauru and France 's overseas territories New Caledonia and French Polynesia . 'Five Eyes ' , also known as 'FVEY ' , is an intelligence alliance . The five nations that make up the world 's leading intelligence-sharing network include the United States , Australia , Canada , Britain and New Zealand . The countries that comprise the group divide the world into eavesdropping target sectors and share the results . Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva reportedly told Fairfax Media that such a programme would be a 'breach of trust ' but added 'it is happening all over the world ' . 'Tonga is too small to stand up to the alleged spying . China is on the radar ... so what can we do ? ' he said . Fiji , Samoa , Tonga , the Solomons Islands , the Cook Islands , Kiribati , Vanuatu , Nauru and France 's overseas territories New Caledonia and French Polynesia . Source : New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Prime Minister John Key refused to comment on the specifics of the allegations but said intelligence services had broken no laws . 'It 's gone on for a very long period of time but there are good reasons why , ' he told commercial radio . Snowden was stranded in a Moscow airport in 2013 on his way from Hong Kong to Cuba , shortly after he released extensive documentation about the National Security Agency 's surveillance programs . Russia has granted him asylum , attracting the ire of the United States .
New Zealand reportedly spying on its South Pacific neighbours . The countries being spied on include Tonga , Fiji , Samoa and Cook Islands . Score: 6