RNZ said an independent review found Hall "breached editorial standards with inappropriate editing of overseas wire stories". Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The spy watchdog has found it was appropriate for the country's Security Intelligence Service to investigate a former RNZ journalist for alleged foreign interference.
Mick Hall complained he had been unlawfully investigated by the spy agency, after he was publicly accused of 'pushing a false Russian narrative' when sub-editing a Reuters story, later published on RNZ in 2023.
SIS inquiries into Hall concluded "there were no concerns of foreign interference".
The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Brendan Horsely looked into Hall's complaint, and found the SIS's enquiries were "both legal and proper and that NZSIS recognised the sensitive nature of making enquiries into a journalist."
In a statement, Hall welcomed the report and accepted the SIS acted "out of necessity" but criticised RNZ for making "damaging mischaracterisations".
An RNZ spokesperson said an independent review found Hall "breached editorial standards with inappropriate editing of overseas wire stories, including adding a pro-Russian perspective on the invasion of Ukraine."
