Former New Zealand Green MP. Campaigner for peace and human rights.
The following opinion piece from me was published in the New Zealand Herald on 10 June 2013. It has now been established that the United States National Security Agency (NSA) has been systematically collecting the phone records of millions of Americans. A relevant question for New Zealanders is whether the NSA has been passing someContinue reading Keith Locke: US spy agency may be passing info on Kiwis to GCSB
Below is the text of an Opinion Piece I had published in Wellington’s daily newspaper, the Dominion Post, on 3 May 2013. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/8627516/NZs-reputation-at-stake-over-summit-venue NZ”S REPUTATION AT STAKE OVER SUMMIT VENUE OPINION: Sri Lanka is not fit to host this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, writes Keith Locke. The Government needs to explain why itContinue reading Why NZ shouldn’t support Sri Lanka hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit
To read some of my recent Daily Blog Posts go to: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/category/bloggers/keith-locke/ The blogs cover the GCSB controversy, the use of domestic drones, political censorship in NZ (on the dictates of the Chinese government) and the growing international support for the West Papuan cause.
I am including here the link to my first contribution to The Daily Blog, a new left political/cultural blog. Other regular contributors to the blog include Chris Trotter, Jane Kelsey, Matt McCarten, Laila Harre, John Minto, Martyn Bradbury, Sue Bradford, Wayne Butson, David Slack and Selwyn Manning. This Daily Blog contribution analyses the discriminatory RoyalContinue reading Rule Britannia: Key keeps the ban on Catholics in the Royal Succession Bill
Oped published in the New Zealand Herald on 18 December 2012 By Keith Locke The Dotcom case is focusing more attention on the Government Communications Security Bureau and its association with the Five Eyes electronic spying network. Chief High Court Judge Helen Winkelmann has asked the GCSB to name the entities (including foreign intelligence agencies)Continue reading Dotcom case shows the cost of spying is spooky
Interviewed by Selwyn Manning on Triangle TV – 15 October 2012
Over the years I have been promoting two related issues, New Zealand becoming a republic, and changing the New Zealand flag away from the present one, which is a hangover from the old colonial days, with a British Union Jack in the corner. After watching the Olympic coverage I wrote a letter to the NewContinue reading Change the New Zealand flag
By Keith Locke (The following article was published in the May 2012 issue of Peace Researcher, the journal of the Anti-Bases Campaign. To see the other interesting articles in Peace Researcher go to http://www.converge.org.nz/abc.) [Peace Researcher editor’s introductory comment: Keith Locke was a Green MP from 1999 to 2011. He has been credited with beingContinue reading Trying to Make New Zealand Intelligence Services More Accountable: My Efforts in Parliament
On Saturday 12 May I was most humbled to receive from Amnesty International the 2012 Human Rights Defender Award. There were many other strong nominees (see below). I thank the many people who have sent messages of congratulations since I was given the award. Amnesty International Honours Unique New Zealander Sunday, 13 May 2012, 10:25 amContinue reading Amnesty International Human Rights Defender Award 2012