New Zealand prepares to tighten espionage laws to stop foreign interference

By Lewis Jackson

(Reuters) - Legislation that strengthens existing espionage laws and introduces new offences passed a first legislative hurdle in New Zealand on Tuesday.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the bill, which passed its first of three readings on Tuesday, would allow New Zealand law to keep up with the "serious threat" of foreign interference.

"The reality is that some foreign states are engaging in activities that are deceptive, corruptive, or coercive," he said in the statement.

"These activities are intended to inappropriately manipulate our society or place undue pressure on individuals and our communities."

New Zealand is a member of the "Five Eyes" intelligence community with Canada, Australia, the United States and Britain.

While Goldsmith did not name any country, the bill comes at a time when New Zealand is increasingly vocalising its concerns about China's behaviour in the Pacific.

The country's top spy agency called China a "complex intelligence concern" in a September report that said New Zealand was a target for a small number of illiberal foreign states.

(Reporting by Lewis Jackson in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry)

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