FBI Director Kash Patel travelled to New Zealand to inaugurate the workplace, which will even oversee the bureau’s operations in Pacific international locations.
The USA’s Federal Bureau of Investigation has upgraded its presence in New Zealand to a standalone workplace within the capital, Wellington, as each governments work collectively to counter Chinese language affect throughout the Asia Pacific area, the FBI’s Director Kash Patel stated.
Patel travelled to New Zealand to open the workplace personally and on Thursday praised the FBI’s “robust relationship” with native regulation enforcement and intelligence companies.
Patel singled out US and New Zealand collaboration on points associated to China in a video shared by the US embassy.
“Among the most essential international problems with our occasions are those that New Zealand and America work on collectively – countering the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] within the Indo PACOM theatre, countering the narcotics commerce, working collectively towards cyber-intrusions and ransomware operations and, most significantly, defending our respective citizenry,” Patel stated.
The US and New Zealand are each members of the “5 Eyes” intelligence-sharing community, which incorporates Australia, Canada and the UK. Additionally they collaborate on different points resembling organised crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking and baby exploitation.
The FBI has maintained a presence in New Zealand since 2017, however the standalone Wellington workplace marks a serious improve within the US company’s presence and can oversee the bureau’s work in Antarctica, Samoa, Niue, the Cook dinner Islands and Tonga.
Each governments have beforehand expressed concern about China’s rising presence within the Pacific area and Beijing’s profitable marketing campaign to increase its diplomatic and financial attain.
Washington fears that the Chinese language navy may in the future construct an abroad base within the Pacific area, which has been historically thought of the US’s again yard.
Minister Judith Collins, who’s accountable for New Zealand’s intelligence providers, and the nation’s Police Minister Mark Mitchell each stated they welcomed the FBI’s resolution as it will assist “maintain New Zealand secure and safe”.
Patel yesterday met with Collins, Mitchell and a handful of senior authorities ministers, together with Overseas Affairs Minister Winston Peters, based on native media.
The Minister was happy to host FBI Director Kash Patel for talks in Wellington yesterday.
They mentioned:
-the shut safety relationship between New Zealand and america;
-law and order points going through the Pacific; and
-New Zealand-US cooperation right here and within the… pic.twitter.com/zoJCyMjSOi
— Winston Peters (@NewZealandMFA) July 31, 2025
