The NZSIS is warning that geopolitical upheaval has intensified threats to New Zealand's safety and security.
By Penny Smith of RNZ
In its latest assessment, the agency's director-general of security Andrew Hampton described the threat environment as being the most challenging of recent times.
"The kinds of malign behaviours and activities we have seen over the past 12 months are proving even more threatening for a country like New Zealand given its size and location in the South Pacific," he said.
Hampton said this country's public and private sectors were being targeted by foreign states and their proxies to gain access to critical assets including intellectual property, innovative technology and other non-public information.
"States' pursuit of strategic advantage is affecting New Zealand's interests. Non-public information is increasingly sought, including policy insights, intellectual property or data sets. States are unsentimental in their pursuit of this information," he warned.
"They may seek to dupe a government insider with a lucrative job offer or try to bust through a cyber backdoor. Homegrown technological innovation, particularly that which has potential military uses like our rapidly expanding space sector, is also under threat from state-sponsored espionage."
The SIS said diaspora community groups in New Zealand were being unfairly targeted by foreign states and their proxies seeking to limit their democratic rights and freedoms.
"Authoritarian states seek to keep diaspora populations abroad under tight control so they can maintain their official narrative and lower the risk of perceived dissent. State proxies use deception and at times corruption to build long-term influence with decision makers," Hampton said.
However, he warned that New Zealand also faced homegrown threats.
"Extremist voices from within our shores are contributing to a polarised information environment, and we see some of these voices advocating for the use of violence," he said.
"Young and vulnerable people in New Zealand are particularly susceptible to violent extremist narratives, which are more readily accessible online and now exacerbated by artificial intelligence."
Hampton said that both antisemitism and Islamophobia were among the concerning themes seen running through the violent extremist environment in New Zealand, alongside "other hateful narratives".
"Such harmful rhetoric should be called out early to stop it from festering and crossing the threshold to violence."
The SIS said there were also New Zealanders, some deliberately and others unwittingly, acting in the interests of foreign states.
"This could be by handing over non-public information or influential New Zealanders self censoring to stay onside with a foreign state. Such behaviour harms our democracy and our economy," it said.
The SIS said the national terrorism threat level remained at possible, with lone actor attacks being the most likely scenario.
The agency's issued new resources, including new protective security advice for Māori businesses and entities - Tiaki Pakihi Māori, which it said was discussed with leaders at a recent meeting of the National Iwi Chairs Forum.
"As I've said previously, we're not trying be alarmist or cause fear," Hampton said.
"It's about being as open as NZSIS can on what we see so that sectors, communities and individuals have the information they need to keep themselves and New Zealand safe."
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