Monday night's 'Moment of Truth' meeting at the Auckland Town Hall saw the issue of surveillance in New Zealand making headlines around the world.
Photo: Kim.com website
The meeting, organised by internet entrepreneur and Internet Party founder Kim Dotcom, brought together two of the world's most infamous men to argue that the Government Communications Security Bureau was involved in the mass surveillance of New Zealand citizens, and that the National government and Prime Minister John Key were aware of it.
Speaking from the Ecuadorean embassy in London, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange addressed the meeting via video link, as did United States security whistleblower Edward Snowden, who spoke from an undisclosed location in Russia.
Award-winning United States journalist Glenn Greenwald also presented evidence.
Many media outlets streamed the meeting live including Britain's Guardian newspaper. It said it had been an extraordinary day in New Zealand politics, just six days out from the country's general election.
In a separate article, it went on to say that an international all-star lineup of the White House's most-loathed had shared the stage, and were given thundering ovations from a crowd energised by articles published hours earlier by Greenwald and Snowden alleging mass surveillance in New Zealand and duplicity on the part of Prime Minister John Key.
Edward Snowden talking via video link at the meeting. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
The American network CNN asked "Can this gang of four take down a PM?"
It said NSA leaker Edward Snowden accused Prime Minister John Key of misleading the public over the country's spying activities, as the nation's explosive election campaign reached a crescendo.
Britain's Independent focussed on Kim Dotcom's political activity and the rise of the Internet Party. It said the meeting, and its high-profile guests, were aimed at assisting his electoral efforts in New Zealand.
The multilingual news television channel and media outlet EuroNews headline said Assange, Dotcom rally against surveillance in New Zealand. It highlighted Snowden's claims that 'if you live in New Zealand, you are being watched' and included a link to a video of the meeting.
Australia's SBS network said Kim Dotcom had spoken out about the need to fight mass surveillance in New Zealand and called Julian Assange and Edward Snowden his heroes.
Julian Assange via a video link during the meeting Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
