FBI Wellington
An Outpost of the US Government in Aotearoa New Zealand. What does it all mean?
There is a lot to unpack today so let’s get to it.
FBI sets up shop in Wellington and plans to combine resources
The day before, Trump’s FBI appointee, Director Kash Patel was captured jetting into Wellington for a visit to the Beehive.
Leaks from social media, and eventually the press, asked “Why”, with NZ’s government and the US Embassy unwilling to divulge any details.
During an interview, Nicola Willis confirmed she also didn’t know anything -
“I do not know if he’s here. I actually do not know. But there were all these men in suits in the Beehive.”
A day later, it was confirmed —
The FBI was already opening a “standalone” FBI office in Wellington, New Zealand.
Patel had met with the Minister Responsible for the spy agencies GCSB and NZSIS, Judith Collins, Police Minister Mark Mitchell, and Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
Mark Mitchell was excited, telling media:
“I like him, yeah.
He's very down to earth, very aware and across the issues that we're facing, very aligned - for us, we've got a big methamphetamine problem obviously that we're dealing with as a country, they've got the same sort of issues.”
That’s very odd criteria to use given most countries have very similar crime issues.
But it is true that methamphetamine use has exploded on National’s watch - up almost 100% from prior years, and more than 300% in some areas.
Despite knowing this for almost a year, Mitchell has had no solutions -
Perhaps all that cost cutting in frontline customs, mental health services & facilities, beneficiaries and disabled, vulnerable tamariki, and putting a funding cliff on police didn’t help, while Australia poached many of our most experienced cops as National played hardball?
Mitchell also said NZ police might work with the FBI on matters, but added:
"[They are] very good at law enforcement".
The Ceremony -
To be clear - usually FBI operates from within existing US embassies.1
This is a departure but also clearly signals a cratering of our national independence.
An FBI release, published 7 hours ago, and well after the announcement in New Zealand, called it “A Milestone in U.S.-New Zealand Law Enforcement and Intelligence Cooperation”
Alt-right politician Nigel Farage’s good friend and NZ’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters, said:
“It’s great news.”
And Judith Collins, claimed the move would “keep New Zealand safe and secure”.
Huh?
The FBI Director was more specific in his message from the US Embassy in Wellington, specifically calling out part of the deal was to counter the CCP (the Communist Party of China).
But that’s not all, as I late expand -
Still, in a Tory tabloid owned by a tax avoidant UK billionaire, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson noted:
“Opening our first new law enforcement attaché in the Wellington Office marks a historic step for the FBI … [to] confront the growing threats of our time emanating from the Indo-Pacific — particularly from hostile nation-state actors like the Chinese Communist Party.“
The paper also noted that having a legat was a typical way to harness international co-operation but:
Director Patel recognizes that having a legal office in New Zealand will combine resources and allow for a more significant impact..
i.e. New Zealand will become an outpost of the United States Trump Administration, and NZ First Winston Peters and Judith Collins & Mark Mitchell all supported it.
Not surprising when we have a Prime Minister who lavishly adulates the United States, but also puts to mind the very significant reality that Luxon ignored, and over-rode security & spy agency & police advice, to allow the US terror group Proud Boys to operate legally in our borders.2
At the time, it felt like a mystery but as in life, many mysteries eventually get solved.
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