2026-03-11 Fecher OIA
PO Box 900, Wel ington 6140
P +64 4 472 6170,
F +64 4 472 8209
www.nzsis.govt.nz
30 April 2026
Agnes Fecher
[FYI request #33334 email]
Tēnā koe Agnes
Official Information Act request
I refer to your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request to the Ministry of Business
Innovation and Employment, seeking information about extremist ideologies in New
Zealand.
MBIE transferred the fol owing part of your request to the New Zealand Security Intelligence
Service (NZSIS) on 11 March 2026, in so far as it related to documents they held that were
authored by the NZSIS:
Any reports, assessments, briefings, or analytical material held by MBIE that discuss the
presence, prevalence, or risk of extremist ideologies in New Zealand comparable to those
publicly attributed to the Bondi Junction attacker, insofar as those views are characterised
in official reporting as violent, extremist, or posing a threat to public safety.
On 8 April 2026, you were advised that the timeframe for making a decision on your request
had been extended to 23 April 2026 as the consultations necessary to make a decision were
such that a response could not be provided within the time limit. A decision was provided on
that date.
Response
I note that you clarified with MBIE that your request relates to the Bondi Beach attack of 14
December 2025, not the Bondi Junction stabbings of April 2024. As the Bondi Beach attack is
considered anti-Semitic and Islamic State-inspired, my response is specific to those. On this
basis, parts of three documents provided to MBIE are in scope of your request. These
documents were authored by the Combined Threat Assessment Group (CTAG), an inter-
agency group hosted by the NZSIS.
I am releasing unclassified summaries of the relevant parts of these documents, as al owed
by section 16(I)(e) of the OIA (see page 3). I am unable to release the documents in their
entirety, as doing so would be likely to prejudice the interests protected by section 6(a) of
the OIA, namely the security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the
Government of New Zealand.
You may however be interested in the more general unclassified information the NZSIS is
able to share on violent extremism, which is contained in our annual Security Threat
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Environment assessments. These are available on our website: www.nzsis.govt.nz/our-wori-
new-zealands-security-threat-environment
Our website also has further information about how CTAG forms its independent
assessments about threats to New Zealand, New Zealanders and New Zealand’s interests
abroad. Further information is available here: www.nzsis.govt.nz/our-work/countering-
violent-extremism-and-terrorism/combined-threat-assessment-group
I also mentioned the Bondi Beach attack in my opening statement to Parliament’s
Intel igence and Security Committee meeting on 4 March this year. You can find my
statement here: www.nzsis.govt.nz/news
Review
If you would like to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or freephone 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Andrew Hampton
Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Pā Whakamarumaru
Director-General of Security
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Released under the Official Information Act 1982
The fol owing is summarised information from Combined Threat Assessment Group (CTAG)
documents. Where possible, excerpts of the original document have been used. Some details are
withheld under section 6(a) of the Official Information Act 1982 as release would prejudice the
security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the New Zealand government.
Summary: Domestic and Pacific Threat Quarterly
Date Issued: 2 July 2024
This report noted CTAG continued to observe violent online rhetoric targeting communities
including the expression of anti-Semitic sentiment. Such rhetoric was noted as being rarely
specific or credible attack planning.
Reporting indicated an increase in propaganda from global Faith-Motivated Violent Extremist
(FMVE) groups, notably groups linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and al-
Qa’ida.
New Zealand’s violent protest threat environment remained largely stable and the majority
of New Zealanders were judged as not supporting the use of violence to support a protest
cause. Overseas, violence had occurred between pro-Palestine protestors and Police, but
similar protests had been peaceful in New Zealand.
New Zealand’s terrorism threat level remained unchanged at LOW.
Summary: New Zealand’s Violent Extremism Threat Environment 2024
Date Issued: 7 November 2024
This report provided an overview of New Zealand’s violent extremism threat environment. It
informed the assessment of New Zealand’s National Terrorism Threat Level, which remained
at LOW, indicating a terrorist attack was a realistic possibility. Further information is
available here: www.nzsis.govt.nz/news/terrorist-attack-in-new-zealand-remains-a-realistic-
possibility-in-deteriorating-global-threat-environment
The report noted a resurgence of Islamic State and Al Qa’ida – inspired ideologies, primarily
led by Islamic State – Khorasan Province. The report also noted that enduring conflict across
the Middle East continued to adversely affect the global threat environment. The conflict
continued to generate anti-Semitic and Islamophobic discourse online. A continuation of
these narratives was expected.
Summary: New Zealand’s Violent Extremism Threat Environment 2026
Date Issued: 23 January 2026
This report provided an overview of New Zealand’s violent extremism threat environment. It
informed the assessment of New Zealand’s National Terrorism Threat Level, which remained
at POSSIBLE (due to a change in language, this is the equivalent of the previous level of
LOW), indicating a terrorist attack was a realistic possibility. Further information is available
here: www.nzsis.govt.nz/our-work/countering-violent-extremism-and-terrorism/national-
terrorism-threat-level
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The Israel/Gaza conflict has resulted in an increase in anti-Semitism and anti-Israel
sentiment global y, and continued to hold significant domestic interest. Instances of physical
violence within the Israel/Gaza protest environment have to date been spontaneous in
nature and the result of interactions between protesters and/or counter-protestors.
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