FBI opens office in Wellington
The director of the US domestic intelligence and security service, Kash Patel, travelled to Wellington yesterday. He met with key officials — including Defence Minister Judith Collins, Police Minster Mark Mitchell and Foreign Minister Winston Peters — this morning.
He also met with Police Commissioner Richard Chambers; the Director-General of the Government Communications Security Bureau, Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark; and Director-General of the Security Intelligence Service, Andrew Hampton.
Peters confirmed he met with the FBI director for 40 minutes yesterday afternoon, during which they discussed the close security relationship between New Zealand and the US; law and order issues facing the Pacific; and NZ-US cooperation here and in the Pacific.
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Patel officially opened the new Wellington office at the US Embassy earlier today and installed a permanent Legat position.
"FBI director Kash Patel travelled to New Zealand this week to open a dedicated law enforcement attaché office in Wellington," the FBI confirmed today in a media release.
Personnel have been stationed here for "several years" but the FBI said "establishing a full Legat position in the country will strengthen and enhance the longstanding cooperation with a key Five Eyes partner in the southwestern Pacific region".
'The FBI has had a strong relationship and collaborated closely with our counterparts in New Zealand for years,' Patel said. 'Expanding the Wellington office demonstrates the strength and evolution of our partnership as we continue to work together to address our shared security objectives in the region.'
Mark Mitchell, Judith Collins, Kash Patel and David Gehrenbeck at the FBI office opening in Wellington. (Source: Supplied)
The office in the capital was originally established in 2017 as a suboffice of the Canberra, Australia Legat.
"This new upgraded office will continue to work with our New Zealand partners to address shared priority areas through joint investigations, information sharing, and capacity-building," Patel said.
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"It will work to investigate and disrupt a wide range of threats and criminal activities including terrorism, cybercrime and fraud, organised crime and money laundering, child exploitation, and foreign intelligence threats. It will have responsibility for partnerships in New Zealand, Antarctica, Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, and Tonga."
In a statement this afternoon, Collins and Mitchell said the upgrade of its Wellington office "demonstrates the strength of the Five Eyes partnership and enhances the safety and security of New Zealanders".
During their meeting, Collins said the ministers and Patel, "exchanged a range of insights on areas such as trans-national organised crime, counter-terrorism, cyber-security and espionage".
"NZSIS and GCSB relationships with overseas partners like the FBI, as well as their support to New Zealand Police, are an important part of how the intelligence agencies deliver on their mission to keep New Zealand safe and secure.'
Mitchell said Patel's visit should "send a clear message" to criminals attempting to hide behind an international border.
FBI Director Kash Patel at the law enforcement attaché office opening ceremony at the US Embassy in Wellington . (Source: Supplied)
"New Zealand Police are continually working with their overseas counterparts like the FBI to catch those engaged in illegal, harmful activities such as drug smuggling and online child exploitation, as well disrupting and preventing this offending from happening in the first place,' he said.
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'Police are part of a global effort on law enforcement. Director Patel's visit was an excellent opportunity to share our common concerns while reinforcing the importance of New Zealand and the US working together to protect our citizens.'
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