FBI opens first office in New Zealand ‘to counter China and cybercrime’

The director of the FBI, Kash Patel, has opened the bureau’s first ever office in New Zealand, in what he said was an attempt to help counter China’s activities in the Indo-Pacific, crack down on issues including cybercrime, and strengthen protection of the Five Eyes nations.

Patel, who opened the office at the US embassy in Wellington on Thursday, called the event an “historic moment”.

“The announcement that we are opening up our law enforcement attache office here in Wellington shows the world that the FBI is actually prioritising a permanent presence across all Five Eyes countries,” Patel said in a video, supplied by the embassy.

Read more at The Guardian