The Government is being accused of using its spy agencies to further the ambitions of its ministers.

A top secret document released to the New Zealand Herald shows the contenders for the World Trade Organisation's top job were monitored by the GCSB, while our Trade Minister Tim Groser was in the running.

The "WTO Project" involved monitoring of candidates from Brazil, Costa Rica, Ghana, Jordan, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico and South Korea.

Labour is planning to lodge a complaint with the Director General of Security and Intelligence over claims, with leader Andrew Little saying that it's completely unacceptable and a possible breach of the law.

"If the evidence is there that the GCSB has been used in this way, then it is wrong that the GCSB was used in that way. Somebody has got to be called to account, the office to do that is the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security."

"We simply cannot afford to have a Prime Minister or a Minister in charge of those agencies allowing them to act outside the law. It would be a horrific situation if that was in fact the case."

Green MP Kennedy Graham says it's a dangerous slippery slope when the GCSB is used to gain a cabinet minister a personal position.

"The strategic interest justifies the New Zealand government, if it so chooses, promoting Tim Groser for a position. It does not justify a spy agency going beyond its legislative mandate."

TPP opponent, Professor Jane Kelsey, says the revelations will change the perception of New Zealand in trade circles.

"It's going to have fallout for how they view our role on the Security Council where we claimed to be coming there as the ethical independent player."

Kelsey believes the eight countries involved will be shocked at the revelations.

"They will also be asking what other things New Zealand has been spying on them over."