Will you stand against foreign interference?

Before you read ahead, rest assured this isn’t a critical letter from the Chinese Ambassador.
Although, I hope you believe enough in the sovereignty of our Parliament and our democracy to hypothetically warrant receiving one of those.

If you don’t get the reference, here’s what I’m talking about.

Yes, you read that right. The Chinese Ambassador wrote to a group of Kiwi MPs condemning their attendance at a Taiwan National Day event in Wellington.

What makes this letter deeply concerning is what it reveals. Only MPs who physically attended the event received it. It was invite-only. That means someone reporting to the PRC Embassy tracked and reported who showed up. This isn’t diplomacy. It’s surveillance.

A few months ago, we highlighted The New Zealand Security Threat Environment 2025 Report released by the NZSIS. The report warned of a growing security threat from foreign interference, espionage, and online radicalisation. Most alarmingly, it said it is “almost certain there is undetected espionage activity harming New Zealand’s national interests.”

Soon after, NZSIS issued further warnings about foreign influence in local elections. Why local? Because councils control resources, ports, and communities. They are easier to infiltrate than central government. The warning was clear: be careful who you vote for.

And yet, when we speak up, we’re accused of being anti-Chinese or told to criticise America’s actions too. Do me a favour, look at these headlines. On one had we have over 100 secret Chinese police stations around the globe, exposed by investigative journalism. On the other we have the director of the FBI showing up to formally open a wellington office - public, visible, and on the record. 

The difference is obvious. China’s influence is direct, political, and often coercive. It targets people and systems that can be turned against our national interest.

Let’s be clear. We are not anti-Chinese or anti-China. We are pro-democracy, pro-freedom, and committed to protecting individuals from authoritarian control.

At PILLAR, we will not look away from attacks on our sovereignty or democracy, no matter who launches them. That’s why we are calling for the introduction of a Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS).

Modelled on the UK framework, the FIRS would require individuals and organisations acting on behalf of foreign powers to publicly declare those relationships. It would strengthen accountability, empower investigators, and protect New Zealand from covert foreign interference, especially from the Chinese Communist Party and its proxies.

But unlike the UK, we believe New Zealand’s version must include China in the enhanced tier, recognising the scale and reach of its political operations.

PILLAR is calling for, and will lead the push for, a public register requiring all ministers and government-affiliated businesses to disclose any formal or financial ties to China.

Systems like this already exist for nations such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Yet China continues to enjoy political access and influence in New Zealand with almost no scrutiny. That must change.

There are only a handful of voices left willing to stand up to foreign pressure. We need every minister, every MP, and every Kiwi to reject intimidation and defend New Zealand’s independence and integrity.

This story is far from over. Our fight is only beginning. We need you to stay vigilant, stay informed, and be ready to take action. Soon we will launch a petition and make formal submissions to Parliament to demand this registry.

New Zealand is worth protecting. Freedom and sovereignty are worth more than trade deals. Human rights are worth more than diplomatic convenience.

So the question is simple: what will you do? Will you stand against foreign interference?
Or will you trade liberty for the temporary comfort of appeasement?

Join us. Speak up.

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