That's according to top officials from the Prime Minister's department, who said: "Right-wing extremists are using the crisis to spread hate and conspiracies." Officials warned Ardern that this was a problem all Five Eyes partners had experienced and all members take this problem "seriously," according to the top officials. In the report, officials warned Ardern: "Right-wing, Islamic and other extremists are using the Covid-19 crisis to spread hate, conspiracies and extremist narratives". "This is of significant concern as right-wing extremists online have encouraged attacks against target communities, including deliberately spreading the virus." But another report, also released under the OIA, detailed the risk profile of Islamist extremists in New Zealand.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 11, 2021 03:19 UTC