NZ officials celebrate the reopening of an upgraded FBI office in Wellington as the United States imposes a 15% tariff on Kiwi exports.
Justice Minister Judith Collins and Police Minister Mark Mitchell welcomed FBI Director Kash Patel to the capital, where they discussed “transnational organised crime, counter-terrorism, cyber-security and espionage”. Collins described the meeting at the U.S. Embassy as a reinforcement of “our long-standing relationship with the FBI” that delivers “important security and safety benefits to New Zealanders.”
As diplomatic ties were being publicly reaffirmed, the U.S. government announced a 15 percent base tariff rate on New Zealand exports—up from the 10 percent rate initially introduced. The hike is part of a broader revision of trade penalties targeting more than 125 countries that run trade surpluses with the U.S.
Trade Minister Todd McClay called the move unfair and said it penalised New Zealand for a relatively modest trade imbalance. “In New Zealand’s case, that’s about half a billion US dollars and in a scheme the size of the U.S. economy, it’s really not significant or meaningful,” he told RNZ’s Midday Report.
McClay acknowledged that some exporters had managed to absorb or pass on the original 10 percent tariff, but warned the increased rate would now begin to bite. “We sell about $9 billion worth of goods into the U.S. every year, and so a 15 percent tariff rate is meaningful.”
Despite the economic blow, McClay maintained that diplomatic engagement with the U.S. remains strong, pointing to recent high-level meetings including Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ visit to Washington. McClay has now requested a call with U.S. Ambassador Jamieson Greer to press for a reconsideration of the tariff hike.
The tariffs were first signaled by President Donald Trump in April as part of his administration’s broader protectionist agenda. Confusion erupted at the time when Trump incorrectly claimed New Zealand imposed a 20 percent tariff on U.S. goods—an assertion the New Zealand government denied. Finance Minister Nicola Willis called the initial 10 percent tariff “extraordinary,” but Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ruled out retaliatory measures.
A recent survey showed two-thirds of Kiwi businesses feared the tariffs could have a more damaging global impact than the COVID-19 pandemic or the global financial crisis.
The juxtaposition of deepening security ties and rising economic barriers highlights the complexity of New Zealand’s relationship with the U.S.—warm in diplomacy, but now strained at the trade table.
Great to attend the opening of the upgraded FBI office in Wellington earlier today. Minister Mitchell and I had excellent discussions with FBI Director Kash Patel at the US Embassy in Wellington, discussing issues such as trans-national organised crime, counter-terrorism,… pic.twitter.com/N0scXsCuN6
— Judith Collins (@JudithCollinsMP) July 31, 2025
They sure like fine dining, these politicians ,by the looks of them.
Collins, Albanese, Xi Ping etc.
Time Judas Collins went on a diet.
No doubt and on the tax payer purse, I’ll wager…..
She’s eating too much US beef, if you get what I mean 😂
The History of the FBI, no thanks, they are Baal Initiates, jus like those named above. ps What Benetiits to NZ does the FBI entrust other than the Trump Plantr IA SMART. role out. Treason comes and treason goes, where it gets to Every NZ Pagan Pollie knows..
ps The Cult of America, the Cult of MAGA et al.. source https://old.bitchute.com/video/TIiax8SPlTRv/
This makes my blood boil. What an utter disgrace, bringing in a foreign police entity into sovereign New Zealand. Especially one with the authoritarian, politicised reputation, of the US FBI. This lot need to go this election, without fail.
National, ACT, NZF…….NOT VOTE FOR YOU, EVER!!!!!!
Oh and that’s NO VOTE…so angry I made a few mistakes…..
Hmmm! Why is the FBI set up in NZ. According to the following it can only be because New Zealand is part of the United States of America?? Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Domestic Law Enforcement: The FBI is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating violations of U.S. federal laws within the United States. Its jurisdiction covers over 200 categories of federal crimes, including terrorism, cybercrime, public corruption, civil rights violations, organized crime, and violent crimes 157.
National Security: As a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community, the FBI also handles domestic counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and security threats within U.S. borders 159.
Jurisdiction: Operates 56 field offices and 400+ resident agencies across the U.S., with law enforcement authority (e.g., arrest powers, subpoena authority) 111.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Foreign Intelligence Focus: The CIA collects intelligence outside U.S. borders through human sources (spies), satellite surveillance, and other means. Its mission is to provide intelligence to policymakers for national security decisions 246.
No Law Enforcement Role: The CIA does not investigate crimes or have law enforcement powers (e.g., arrests, prosecutions). Instead, it focuses on intelligence gathering, analysis, and covert actions (e.g., disrupting terrorist plots) 2610.
Limited Domestic Activity: By law, the CIA cannot operate within the U.S. except to:
Recruit foreign nationals on U.S. soil (with FBI coordination).
Debrief U.S. citizens returning from abroad 48.
Threat Prevention: While it addresses foreign threats (e.g., espionage, terrorism), it does so through intelligence sharing with agencies like the FBI—not criminal investigations
This is dodgy AF
Why did John Key flee in 2016 the moment Trump ascended to the presidency? Perhaps Key was involved in intelligence sharing agreement with the DNC?
NZ government did donate NZD $18 million to the Clinton Foundation / initiatives under Key…
(gifted! for what? favor? the Clinton witch lost… too bad Key)
…Precisely why the US want an FBI office in Wellywood methinks.
The US is like a dominatrix and our politicians are head down, butt up begging for a spanking
TO COUNTER TERRORISM????… WHO WILL THIS GOVERNMENT SOON DECLARE TO BE TERRORISTS? JUST LIKE STARMER IN THE UK, IT WILL BE ANYONE HERE WHO DISAGREES WITH GOVERNMENT POLICY… AND THAT INCLUDES THE NEXT PLANDEMIC, THE PASSING OF THE GENE TECH BILL WHICH WILL ALLOW THE ARREST FOR 5 YEARS OF ANYONE DEEMED TO BE SPREADING MIS AND DIS INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT MRNA TECHNOLOGY… THEY ONLY HAVE TO EXPAND THAT TO ANY OTHER POLICY THEY CHOOSE TO IMPOSE ON US… WE ARE IN BIG BIG TROUBLE… IN NEW ZEALAND AND YES VOTE THEM ALL OUT NEXT TIME ROUND… BUT FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO VOTE FOR AS LABOUR/GREENS/MAORI WILL DO THE SAME…
Exactly!
But, we just had a 15% Tariff levied on us.
This is Trump’s ‘gift of thanks’ for allowing the Zionistrun and Israeli-controlled FBI (and indirectly, the CIA & Mossad…) to set up a permanent office in Welly…permanent until the NZ Loyal Party arrives in Parliament and shuts-down their field office…!
Could it be that the spying was done on the Trump campaign in NZ by the NZSIS, and the intel then passed onto the Biden and Clinton swamp via the 5 Eyes channels?