Foreign interference in New Zealand elections was also possible as growing global attempts to interfere in national politics increased in sophistication, said Rebecca Kitteridge, service director of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. Kitteridge told the committee that security agencies had created a plan on how to respond to a threat of foreign interference though it had not found meddling in the 2017 vote. “Interference in New Zealand’s elections by a state actor was plausible and remains so,” she said. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the government had asked the parliamentary committee to look at the risks around foreign interference in elections to check that its laws were adequate. Picture of New Zealand accused emergesNeighboring Australia has introduced laws designed to crack down on foreign interference as public concern over Chinese political donations and relationships between lawmakers and Chinese businesses have intensified.

Source: The Express Tribune April 11, 2019 11:26 UTC