The Station was opened in 1982, replacing an earlier facility at
Irirangi, near
Waiouru. According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the facility is part of
ECHELON, the worldwide network of
signals interception facilities, run by the
UKUSA (UK-USA Security Agreement) consortium of intelligence agencies (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the Intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ). Its role in this capacity was first identified publicly by peace researcher
Owen Wilkes in 1984, and investigated in detail by peace activist and independent journalist
Nicky Hager. The equipment at the Tangimoana facility "is equally capable of receiving signals transmitted by radio and satellite which do not include foreign intelligence and which are domestic concerning and involving NZ citizens." The facility cost about NZ$1.4 million. The history of the site was restricted for 100 years, but a copy of the document was accidentally sent to
Archives New Zealand. ==See also==