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Why are community organisations at risk from foreign interference?
Community organisations often play a vital role in supporting and shaping communities, influencing decision-making, and connecting diverse groups. Their extensive networks and trusted relationships make them key players in community leadership and engagement.
Foreign states engaging in interference may target community organisations in New Zealand to deceptively, corruptively or coercively:
- Access personal or sensitive information about the organisation or community members.
- Undermine social cohesion and negatively impact communities in New Zealand.
- Suppress views that oppose those of a foreign state’s interests.
- Gatekeep or control access by influential community leaders and individuals.
- Influence their leadership, strategic direction, communications and engagement.
- Infiltrate the community organisation to advance their own interests.
- Leverage the organisation’s relationships with decision-makers and the wider community.
- Create internal divisions to weaken the organisation’s effectiveness and reputation.
- Recruit influential individuals within the organisation to advance their own interests.
- Spread disinformation or misinformation through the organisation’s networks.
- Interfere in general and local elections.
Resources for communities about foreign interference are available on the Ministry for Ethnic Communities website in 30 languages.
Safeguarding your community organisation
Community organisations often operate with limited resources and volunteer-led structures. Recognising the risks of foreign interference isn’t about taking on national security responsibilities — it’s about identifying any vulnerabilities and strengthening your organisation to protect your members and mission.
Even in small, volunteer-led groups, simple practices such as discussing emerging risks, keeping records of decisions, and maintaining clear processes, roles, and responsibilities can make a difference in building resilience to foreign interference.
For your community organisation to consider
- Why would a foreign state target my community organisation or my role to deceptively, corruptively or coercively advance their own interests?
- What part of our structure or information could a foreign state target to deceptively, corruptively or coercively advance their own interests?
- Is there anything about my role, or my organisation’s role, influence, or public voice that could be targeted by a foreign state trying to deceptively, corruptively or coercively advance their own interests?
- Could foreign states see our organisation as a gateway to communities, decision-makers, community leaders, or public opinion?
- Are there specific causes or issues where our voice is particularly influential, which could attract unwanted attention from foreign states conducting foreign interference?
- How could a foreign state use our work, connections, or access to information to deceptively, corruptively or coercively push interests that conflict with our organisation or New Zealand’s values?
Keeping your community organisation safe from foreign interference
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Good governance practices are key to building a resilient community organisation.
Transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making not only support effective management but also help reduce the risk of foreign interference.
A strong board is one that works well together, stays connected to the community, and remains alert to emerging issues, such as foreign interference. By encouraging open dialogue and actively monitoring risks, boards are able to play a critical role in protecting their organisation. -
Protecting a community organisation from foreign interference isn’t the job of one person or role — it’s a shared responsibility.
Whether you're on the board, part of staff, or a volunteer, staying alert to the risk of foreign interference is part of maintaining a strong, trusted organisation.
Regular communication, asking questions, and sharing concerns help community organisations respond quickly and effectively to potential risks.
This collective awareness strengthens the organisation’s ability to protect its mission and the communities it serves.