How can the PM not know about this?

One revelation from John Key's leg-rubbing expedition to Washington: New Zealand was only welcomed back into the Five Eyes spy network five years ago. Its a bit surprising because most people thought we'd never left. But what's more surprising is that John Key claims to know nothing about it:

Prime Minister John Key said he could not recall any such change since National took office.

"I don't know exactly what they are referring to.

"My understanding of it is that even through the challenging times of the relationship post the anti-nuclear legislation, New Zealand continued to be an active member of Five Eyes."

Asked to confirm whether his Government had ever made a decision to actively rejoin Five Eyes, Key responded: "I don't think that's right, but I remember there were some vague things . . . "

He then said he would check.

This is a major change to our intelligence and foreign policy; how can the Prime Minister (and Minister in charge of the GCSB) not know about it? Did he just not notice? Or did the spies not tell him (effectively running their own foreign policy without any democratic mandate whatsoever)?

Either way, it seems that the man who should be overseeing what our spies are doing, and making sure they are not stepping out of line, is asleep on the job. I hope you all feel safer now.