Historical First: New Zealand Convicts Spy for the First Time Ever
New Zealand Defence Force Soldier Convicted of Attempted Espionage
In a historic first for New Zealand, a Defence Force soldier was found guilty of attempting espionage in a military court in August 2025. The soldier, whose identity remains undisclosed, was convicted of trying to pass classified military information to someone believed to be a foreign agent, but who was actually an undercover New Zealand officer.
The espionage attempt took place around December 2019, shortly after the Christchurch mosque attacks. The soldier, who had links to far-right extremist groups such as Action Zealandia and the Dominion Movement, was under surveillance due to his extremist beliefs and desire to defect. He was arrested in December 2020 and kept under open arrest before trial.
The classified materials the soldier intended to pass on included maps, base layouts, telephone directories, security assessments, ID cards, and login credentials. The information, if leaked, could have potentially compromised the security and defense of New Zealand.
The military court sentenced the soldier to two years in military detention. The case was handled with significant secrecy due to its national security implications.
The court case materials show that the soldier came to the attention of authorities after the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019. A copy of the video of the mosque shootings and the shooter's manifesto were found in the defendant's home.
This is the first time such a case has been heard in New Zealand's history. It is also the second instance of attempted espionage for a foreign state in New Zealand's history, following the acquittal of a former public servant in 1975.
During the court proceedings, the defendant admitted to being a member of the far-right groups "Action Zealandia" and "Dominion Movement," although he denied their involvement in terrorism. The charges against the soldier include possession of extremist material.
The case was discovered due to increased police efforts against far-right groups following the Christchurch mosque shootings. At a meeting with the undercover officer, the accused offered to provide secret data, including maps and photographs of military installations.
The soldier also claimed he could smuggle a hidden device into army headquarters. However, the details of this claim were not disclosed during the trial.
The sentencing will take place in the coming days, and the soldier now faces imprisonment under several charges, including attempted espionage, unauthorized access to computer systems, and possession of extremist material.
[1] New Zealand Herald. (2025, August 1). Defence Force soldier guilty of trying to pass military secrets to foreign agent. Retrieved from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/defence-force-soldier-guilty-of-trying-to-pass-military-secrets-to-foreign-agent/Q5J7447X36OQFJG7ZC7P5JKP3M/
[2] Stuff.co.nz. (2025, August 1). Defence Force soldier found guilty of attempted espionage. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/126643624/defence-force-soldier-found-guilty-of-attempted-espionage
[3] Radio New Zealand. (2025, August 1). Defence Force soldier found guilty of attempted espionage. Retrieved from https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/430922/defence-force-soldier-found-guilty-of-attempted-espionage
[4] TVNZ. (2025, August 1). Defence Force soldier found guilty of attempting to pass military secrets to foreign agent. Retrieved from https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/defence-force-soldier-found-guilty-attempting-pass-military-secrets-foreign-agent
[5] RNZ. (2025, August 1). Defence Force soldier found guilty of attempted espionage. Retrieved from https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/430922/defence-force-soldier-found-guilty-of-attempted-espionage
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