The government has introduced a new bill aimed at addressing foreign interference in its institutions and communities, as outlined in the latest threat assessment by the NZSIS.
The proposed legislation, led by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, criminalises covert, corrupt, and coercive activities conducted on behalf of foreign powers to harm New Zealand intentionally or recklessly.
While existing laws cover offenses such as blackmail and cyber misuse, the bill aims to fill gaps in dealing with foreign state actors undermining national interests. It also strengthens penalties for unauthorised disclosure of government information and ensures greater legal clarity for prosecution, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
A regulatory impact statement highlighted the need for targeted measures to avoid overcriminalising legitimate activities, particularly in sensitive fields like software development with dual-use applications.
The move comes amidst rising concerns of strategic competition and “grey-zone” activities by foreign states, including explicit mentions of interference from China targeting New Zealand’s Chinese communities.
The government has opted not to include a beneficial ownership register, despite calls for its potential to mitigate risks.
Comparisons have been drawn with Australia’s foreign interference framework, which has faced criticisms and ongoing reforms since its implementation in 2018.
Image credit: Leroy de Thierry
Needs to be renamed to “Foreign NGO’s, Corporations and Oligarchy Interference Bill”.
They already run New Zealand. This is a puerile distraction.
As usual – a ‘news’ article which tells the reader nothing.
I don’t even know what New Zealand’s ‘national interests’ are. Could someone enlighten me?
What? China targeting New Zealand’s Chinese communities? Is China thinking of mobilising all New Zealand Chinese for a communist takeover of the country or something? They’ll have to fight the Greens for that honour first.
What on earth is a ‘grey-zone’ type of interference?
Why would foreign powers want to harm New Zealand intentionally or recklessly? What could they do that is worse than what our own homegrown wanna-be tyrants have done? After what successive governments of our own people have done, this little country would be nothing more than a liability to any foreign power now.
Does the covid vaccine fall into this.
What a bunch of drama queens. Who’s interested in this back water? China has “towns” bigger than the population of the whole country, for Christ’s sake. Yet another waste of tax payer dollars, so this lot can entertain the pretension they are in the same boat as the big boys, such as the USA and Germany.
Lame as it gets.Not to mention childish.
They want our farmland, and could take it without losing a single han man. By sending in the drones, robot dogs etc.
After all, they’re a superior breed than us white devils (in their eyes).
So the US control of NZ, including most of our politicians, is going to be illegal and therefore stop?
Of course I’m just kidding, that will never happen as NZ is a vassal of the US.
Luxon, Ardern and everyone else before them are poodles of whatever US administration there is.
” It also strengthens penalties for unauthorised disclosure of government information… ”