FBI Director Kash Patel travelled to New Zealand to inaugurate the workplace, which may also oversee the bureau’s operations in Pacific nations.
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 “sturdy relationship” with native legislation enforcement and intelligence businesses.
Patel singled out US and New Zealand collaboration on points associated to China in a video shared by the US embassy.
“A few of the most necessary 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. In addition they collaborate on different points equivalent to 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 significant improve within the US company’s presence and can oversee the bureau’s work in Antarctica, Samoa, Niue, the Prepare 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 broaden its diplomatic and financial attain.
Washington fears that the Chinese language army may in the future construct an abroad base within the Pacific area, which has been historically thought-about the US’s again yard.
Minister Judith Collins, who’s liable for New Zealand’s intelligence providers, and the nation’s Police Minister Mark Mitchell each stated they welcomed the FBI’s determination as it could assist “preserve New Zealand protected and safe”.
Patel yesterday met with Collins, Mitchell and a handful of senior authorities ministers, together with International Affairs Minister Winston Peters, in accordance with 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