Officials have revealed that sensitive data from the country’s Parliament was compromised during a cyber espionage operation attributed to China.
The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) confirmed the attack occurred in 2021 and involved unauthorised access to data by Chinese state-sponsored actors known as Advanced Persistent Threat 40 (APT 40). Although some data was extracted, it was reportedly not of strategic significance, said a report in legacy news outlet NZ Herald.
Despite this unprecedented breach the government said it had no plans to sanction China. The incident happened in the broader context of China’s alleged cyber activities against ‘democratic institutions’ worldwide, including the UK’s Electoral Commission and its Parliament. Chinese hackers have also been accused of engaging in a broad cyber espionage campaign affecting a range of individuals and institutions in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
GCSB officials said the activity did not impact the country’s electoral processes.
Responding to the relevations, Foreign Minister Winston Peters relayed his concerns to China via a press release today.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.
‘The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom,’ said Peters.
‘It is important that these concerns also be conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. It is for that reason that I directed senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to speak today to the Chinese Ambassador, to lay out our position and express our concerns. That conversation has now taken place.
‘Foreign interference of this nature is unacceptable, and we have urged China to refrain from such activity in future. New Zealand will continue to speak out – consistently and predictably – where we see concerning behaviours like this.
‘As discussed during last week’s visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Zealand, our two countries have a significant and complex relationship. We cooperate with China in some areas for mutual benefit. At the same time, we have also been consistent and clear that we will speak out on issues of concern.’
Image credit: Markus Spiske
Yes they were uploading this evenings menu for special fried rice dish and fatty Luxon sent secret stash of comprising pictures in lace knickers.
LOL….
While they are flooding our country with meth,, stealing our info and data our politicians are lining there pockets with cash looking the other way
The only people that think New Zealand is important is New Zealand and its precious little US stooge government. Why on earth would china waste its time with this back water? Reality is, it probably wouldn’t but still good to try to justify that I-spy spend, right?
Um…. Hello….?
The whole government has been hacked for decades….
“vee haff penetrrrrated zee cabinets…”
Keep quiet or you’ll get “Norm Kirked”
Time to stop pretending that NZGOVTCORP is under people’s control.
It is most certainly rogue and it is time we flushed this toilet.
Yes, long ago, when I found out the NZGOV was a corporation, I was like “wait what, say that again. What do you meant I do not have to comply”?
Strawman – the nature of the cage. Two hours long and worth every minute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sArXw6ajNg
Just another red flag event that will be used to try and tell us we NEED to have higher security on the internet . IR social credit score linked to ID and your ability to move around and buy stuff.