New Zealand army officer cadets move on exercise in the Waiouru training area in the central North Island of New Zealand, May 6, 2022. (Corporal Naomi James/NZDF via AP)
A soldier in the New Zealand Army has admitted to attempted espionage, marking the first conviction for spying in the country’s military history. The soldier, whose identity remains confidential, attempted to pass military secrets to a foreign power. This significant case was heard in a military court in Wellington, New Zealand.
According to military court documents, the soldier believed he was in contact with a foreign agent in 2019. He attempted to share sensitive military information, including base telephone directories, maps, assessments of security vulnerabilities, his personal identity card, and login details for a military network. The charge against him stated that his actions were “likely to prejudice the security or defense of New Zealand.”
In reality, the individual was communicating with an undercover police officer from New Zealand. This officer was part of an operation aimed at gathering intelligence on alleged right-wing extremist groups, following the tragic events of March 15, 2019, when an Australian white supremacist killed 51 people in a terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch.
The soldier’s activities had drawn the attention of law enforcement due to his expressed desire to defect and involvement with extremist groups. He was approached by the undercover officer after investigators identified his potential threat. During the investigation, authorities discovered that the soldier had accessed a hard drive containing the livestreamed video of the Christchurch attack, as well as a manifesto authored by Brenton Tarrant, the shooter. Possession of such materials without authorization constitutes a criminal offense in New Zealand.
The soldier, who served at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North, also pleaded guilty to accessing a military computer system for dishonest purposes. Initially facing 17 charges, he ultimately admitted to three counts, each carrying a maximum penalty of either seven or ten years in prison.
His lawyer, Steve Winter, emphasized in a statement read to the court that the nationalist groups with which the soldier was associated were merely “groups of friends with similar points of view.” Winter also asserted that his client did not endorse the ideology of the Christchurch shooter, as reported by Radio New Zealand.
The soldier’s sentencing is expected to occur within days, with a military panel set to determine his fate. This case is notable not only for its implications on military security but also for its historical context. The last espionage case that reached civilian courts in New Zealand occurred in 1975, when a public servant was acquitted of charges related to Russian agents.
A spokesperson for the New Zealand Army indicated that they would refrain from commenting on the case until all legal proceedings are concluded. This case highlights the ongoing challenges New Zealand faces in balancing national security with the complexities of personal beliefs and extremist ideologies.
