The partner of the chief press secretary to Labour leader David Shearer has been drawn into the row over alleged leaks after being exposed as a former GCSB spy agency employee.
Dr Damien Rogers is an academic who lives with former New Zealand Herald and TVNZ journalist Fran Mold. She now works as an adviser to Mr Shearer.
Yesterday, NewstalkZB reported Dr Rogers was the source for Mr Shearer's claims the Prime Minister had joked with GCSB staff about Kim Dotcom in the agency's cafeteria.
Ms Mold and Dr Rogers did not respond to messages.
Dr Rogers grew up in Christchurch, studied international relations at Victoria University in 2002, then worked in the public service in Wellington.
He earned his doctorate at the Australian National University, writing a book on small arms from pistols to automatic rifles and rocket launchers. The book studied the way nations attempted to control the arms trade and how arms dealers avoided those efforts to shut them down.
Dr Rogers' Facebook page in August lists the Labour Party among his "interest and activities". He also commented on the Labour Party page about a poster highlighting the wage gap between rich and poor. "Awesome graphic," he wrote.
The New Zealand Herald has been told Dr Rogers was not at the GCSB on the critical dates in the scandal. It is understood he was seconded to another government agency at the time of the Dotcom spying and during Mr Key's visit.
The GCSB investigation has yet to establish whether a leak occurred. GCSB director Ian Fletcher said last night he was looking beyond his own staff to conduct the inquiry.
"To ensure we can carry on with our business as usual, as much as possible, we will be bringing in appropriate external expertise to help conduct the inquiry."
If it establishes a leak, the GCSB's legislation carries a penalty of up to two years in prison.
Mr Key's visit to the GCSB on February 29 has caused embarrassment. He was briefed by the spy agency about its co-operation with police leading up to the arrest of internet tycoon Kim Dotcom.
Next week, he faces telling Parliament he forgot about the briefing and was wrong when he said he had not heard of the agency's involvement with the case until told in September they had illegally spied on Mr Dotcom.
The new claims would mean Mr Key not only forgot hearing about the case - but forgot talking about it.
Mr Shearer said last night the GCSB had searched for the recording for three days leading up to when he first claimed it existed.
"They have turned GCSB upside down. They have seized hard drives of staff members.
"Whether [the video] still exists now, as a result of the searches that GCSB has made, I can't tell you."
He also gave more detail of Mr Key's comments.
"He mentioned the good work they had done with the Kim Dotcom case. There were a large number of people at that meeting who heard John Key speak."
Dotcom's lawyer, Paul Davison, yesterday said he was seeking testimony by affidavit from the GCSB about its actions. He said the court had appointed lawyer Stuart Grieve to act as the independent figure to sift information from the agency to establish relevance.
Mr Dotcom has called for whistle-blowers to come forward with information.
Crunch dates
February 29: Prime Minister John Key visits the GCSB. Kim Dotcom case discussed.
September 17: Date cited initially by Mr Key as when he first heard of the agency's illegal spying.
