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\nChris Kumeroa said security agencies and private intelligence operators were now routinely monitoring social media, encrypted platforms and parts of the dark web.
\nPhoto: Unsplash \/ Robin Worrall\n<\/p>\n
A security expert is warning that internationally connected far-right groups are gaining traction in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Chris Kumeroa is a former SAS soldier specialising in counter terrorism, human tracking, mountaineering and reconnaissance.<\/p>\n
He’s worked in the security sector locally and abroad with foreign governments, including British and United States departments, and has protected high profile people, such as the Saudi royal family.<\/p>\n
Kumeroa said extremist movements overseas were increasingly influencing local groups through online platforms, disinformation networks and ideological recruitment.<\/p>\n
He said political polarisation, international conflicts and conspiracy movements had helped fuel the spread of extremist narratives in New Zealand since the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
”The left and right is playing out on a local level,” he said.<\/p>\n
”There’s disinformation and misinformation groups…sovereign citizens, many groups, alt-right groups are growing globally.”<\/p>\n
Kumeroa said security analysts were seeing increasing signs of overseas ideological influence shaping behaviour and rhetoric within New Zealand-based extremist communities.<\/p>\n
”We are seeing quite a bit of international influence around political positions, whether it be left leaning, right leaning against opposite groups,” he said.<\/p>\n
Kumeroa specifically named white nationalist organisation Action Zealandia as one example of a group expanding its reach.<\/p>\n
”Groups like Action Zealandia and a few others, they’re starting to grow their numbers, grow their reach and take a position,” he said.<\/p>\n
Kumeroa said extremist rhetoric increasingly targeted politicians, judges and public figures, particularly around contentious political issues including Covid-19 policies, immigration and international conflicts.<\/p>\n
He said security agencies and private intelligence operators were now routinely monitoring social media, encrypted platforms and parts of the dark web for signs of radicalisation or threats.<\/p>\n
”We’re constantly monitoring all sorts of groups,” he said.<\/p>\n
Kumeroa warned that while many online threats amounted to ”chest puffing”, authorities remained concerned about the risk posed by lone actors radicalised online.<\/p>\n
”There are lone attackers out there that may have been radicalised by certain local international groups.”<\/p>\n