NSA facilities in NZ: Snowden

There are no US spy bases in New Zealand and the GCSB doesn't have the capacity to carry out mass surveillance, Prime Minister John Key says.

In his strongest rejection so far of the sensational claims made by whistleblower Edward Snowden, Mr Key challenged anyone who believes him to take the media to the sites.

Mr Snowden on Monday claimed there was a US National Security Agency "facility" in Auckland and another north of the city.

The former NSA analyst was speaking at Kim Dotcom's "moment of truth" event in Auckland Town Hall via a video link from Russia.

He said that while he was working for the NSA he was able to access emails and texts sent by New Zealanders and gathered by the GCSB's mass surveillance operations.

Mr Key says the claims just don't stack up.

"The GCSB doesn't have the physical capability to do it," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"It would be hugely expensive, and we don't and can't use foreign agencies to carry out mass surveillance."

Mr Key says it's possible Snowden did see data about New Zealanders during his work with the NSA.

If he did, it would have been there for legitimate purposes.

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NSA facilities in NZ: Snowden