Foreign Interference in NZ Academia

PILLAR calls for review of Confucius Institutes after NZSIS warning on university security 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PILLAR is calling on the Government and New Zealand universities to urgently review the continued operation of Confucius Institutes following new NZSIS warnings about foreign interference and espionage risks in the tertiary sector. 

The NZSIS New Zealand’s 2026 Security Threat Environment assessment warns that universities and research institutions are targets of interest to foreign states, and that academic exchanges, partnerships and recruitment programmes can be exploited to obtain intellectual property and technology or conceal links to military and intelligence organisations. 

NZSIS also states that the People’s Republic of China is the only country it has detected conducting espionage against New Zealand at scale. 

PILLAR chief executive Nathan Seiuli said the findings make scrutiny of foreign-state-linked organisations operating within universities unavoidable. 

The call follows increased scrutiny overseas. Many universities in Europe and the United States have severed ties with Confucius Institutes in recent years amid concerns about academic independence, the monitoring of Chinese international students and the promotion of narratives favourable to Beijing. Several Australian universities have also closed their institutes. 

“New Zealand does not need to copy other countries, but it would be complacent not to examine why comparable democracies have subjected these arrangements to much tougher scrutiny,” Seiuli said. 

“This is not an argument against teaching Mandarin, engaging with China or collaborating with legitimate Chinese researchers. It is about ensuring New Zealand universities retain full control over their curriculum, appointments, research, events and institutional priorities. 

“New Zealand universities depend on public trust, academic freedom and institutional independence. When our own security service warns that academic partnerships can be exploited by foreign states, universities and Ministers cannot simply assume arrangements established years ago remain appropriate today.” 

Confucius Institutes operate at several New Zealand universities, providing Chinese-language and cultural programmes through partnerships involving institutions in the People’s Republic of China. 

PILLAR stressed that the NZSIS assessment does not specifically identify Confucius Institutes as perpetrators of espionage or foreign interference. However, given the experience of other universities internationally, the concerns are not unfounded.  

“That is precisely why there should be a transparent, evidence-based review,” Seiuli said. 

“Universities should be able to demonstrate that these institutions are independently governed, transparently funded and insulated from foreign-state pressure. If they can, they should publish the evidence. If they cannot, the arrangements should end.” 

PILLAR has written to Minister for Tertiary Education Hon Penny Simmonds asking whether the Government has sought security advice on Confucius Institutes and whether it will review foreign-state-linked university partnerships. 

“Openness is one of the great strengths of universities. But NZSIS is warning that openness can also be exploited. The responsible response is transparency, scrutiny and action.” 

ENDS