Aotearoa New Zealand is facing growing challenges from foreign interference.

Ethnic Communities can receive unwanted attention from foreign states, which can erode trust and wellbeing and can undermine social cohesion. It can take many forms, from online harassment to interfering with community leadership and organisations. These actions are disruptive; they can affect people’s sense of security and the connections that hold communities together.

Chief Executive Mervin Singham says, “Foreign interference is a complex and evolving issue. It can be subtle and deeply personal, and can affect individuals, communities, and our shared sense of belonging.

New Zealand’s first line of defence against foreign interference is resilient ethnic communities, and they do not have to face these challenges alone. Together we can protect what makes New Zealand strong.”

To help communities stay safe, informed and supported, the Ministry for Ethnic Communities has just released four new resources and a video.

The resources for communities include:

• Doxing
• Online abuse and harassment
• Examples of foreign interference
• Information on New Zealand Government agencies

The release of these new resources builds on the eight published in April this year. Most of the resources have been translated into 30 languages so they can be used by a wide range of communities.

In July, as part of the Ethnic Advantage 2025 conference, the Ministry hosted a panel discussion about foreign interference. The session highlighted real experiences of Ethnic Communities in New Zealand and Australia, how both Governments are responding to the challenge of foreign interference, and how communities can stay vigilant.

Watch the video of the panel session