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,Secret Power - Press and Praise and investigated in detail by peace activist and independent journalist Nicky Hager.Chapter Two: Hooked up to the spy network: The UKUSA system 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."Government Communications Security Bureau [GCSB] New Zealand - Intelligence Agencies
