John Daniel

And look, that might be understandable.

Yeah, but the people in power haven't really taken the time to explain that to the public because it's politically awkward, given that the US, they just get it wrong sometimes.

Now, those smart people in the corridors of power, they must be wondering, how much worse would it have to get with President Trump before something breaks?

We approached the SIS about this.

They use different language, but essentially they confirm that, yes, a, quote, small number of staff are posted offshore in liaison roles, end quote.

They say that relationships with overseas intelligence and security partners, particularly Five Eyes, are vital to New Zealand's national security.

And when we asked about any changes in that Five Eyes dynamic since the election of the second Trump administration, they did note that the global environment continues to be dynamic.

They said,

Not quite business as usual, but close.

And that underlines just how useful it's been to hear this story about the specifics of that relationship.

Anyway, just to wrap up, Kit Bennett did end up finding his way out of the wilderness of mirrors.

He never became an actual fighter pilot.

He also managed to get the girl.

For more than 30 years now, he's been happily married to Jackie, who he first knew when he was a schoolboy in the Wairarapa.

They've had adventures all over the place, lived in Papua New Guinea for more than a decade where he worked with an airline.

And in spite of the sense that it didn't end the way he would have liked, and he regrets the damage to the relationships around him, Kit Bennett says he wouldn't change his time with CIA.

Original music by Anthony Tonin.

Graphic design by Oliver Wall.

For RNZ, sound production and final mix was by Mark Chesterman.

Production coordinator was Brianna Eurotic-Greek.