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The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service has announced the release of its Security Threat Environment 2026 report, identifying national security challenges against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical uncertainty.
The domestic intelligence agency’s fourth edition independent assessment of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) Security Threat Environment report makes six key assessments about New Zealand’s current threat environment.
These include geopolitical upheaval is bringing downstream threats to New Zealand’s safety and security; New Zealand’s public and private sectors are being targeted by foreign states and their proxies to gain access to critical assets including intellectual property, innovative technology and other non-public information.
In addition, diaspora community groups in New Zealand are being unfairly targeted by foreign states and their proxies seeking to limit their democratic rights and freedoms; more insiders are causing harm to their organisations and our national security through actions that are deliberate, influenced by outsiders or unwitting.
The national terrorism threat level remains at Possible. The most likely attack scenario would involve a lone actor targeting people in a crowded place using weapons that are easily accessible. Their mobilisation to violence will likely happen with little to no intelligence forewarning.
Violent extremism in New Zealand is being influenced by a broad range of ideologies, a mix of domestic and international events, and the mainstreaming of extremist online rhetoric.
NZSIS Director-General Andrew Hampton said malign behaviours and activities seen over the last year are proving to be threatening for New Zealand’s national security.
“Countries are being buffeted by shifting geopolitical forces, unprecedented levels of polarisation in societies, ongoing economic pressures and rapid advances in artificial intelligence. The flow-on effects for New Zealand’s national security makes up a complex and volatile picture,” Hampton said.
“New Zealand (is) not only geopolitically relevant, but attractive to threat actors who are unsentimental in their pursuit of our information and their influence over us.
“Extremist voices from within our shores are contributing to a polarised information environment, and we see some advocating for the use of violence. Young and vulnerable people are particularly susceptible to readily available online violent extremist narratives, which are often exacerbated by the use of artificial intelligence.
“National security is not something exclusively owned by the security and intelligence agencies – it must be a collective effort.
“I also want to highlight a new feature of this year’s report which are the career opportunities at NZSIS. We’re recruiting, so join us and help do something about the threats we’re talking about. Forget the stereotypes – we’re looking for a broad range of people. Our vacancies range from roles requiring a strong technical or analytical background to jobs needing great people skills.”
The Security Threat Environment 2026 report includes several emerging areas of focus and discussions such as rapid advances in technology (generative artificial intelligence), foreign state actors seeking to exploit NZ’s space sector, espionage activity targeting the broader Pacific region, political interference in New Zealand and increased discussion of ideological motivations and narratives in the violent extremism environment, including violent online communities.
The next annual Cyber Threat Report produced by the GCSB’s National Cyber Security Centre is due to be published in October this year.
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