FBI opens first office in New Zealand ‘to counter China and cybercrime’
“The director of the FBI, Kash Patel, has opened the bureau’s first ever office in New Zealand, in what he said was an attempt to help counter China’s activities in the Indo-Pacific, crack down on issues including cybercrime, and strengthen protection of the Five Eyes nations.”
” ‘Countering the CCP in the Indopacom [the US’s Indo-Pacific Command] area, countering the narcotics trade, working against cyber intrusion and ransomware operations and most importantly protecting our respective citizenry,’ he said.”
“The FBI has stationed staff in Wellington since 2017, as a sub-office of the legal attaché office in Australia’s capital Canberra, Australia. The new office will have responsibility for partnerships in New Zealand, Antarctica, Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, and Tonga.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/31/fbi-opens-new-zealand-office