July 31, 2025 • 4 mins
There's a new strengthening of the partnership between our police and security agencies and the FBI.
The bureau is opening a stand alone office in Wellington, meaning they're established in all Five Eyes countries.
Minister for Defence, SIS and GCSB Judith Collins says it will work on combating terrorism, organised crime, and foreign intelligence threats.
"Whether it's people trafficking fentanyl, which is a big focus at the moment for the FBI - but also methamphetamine, which is one of our big focus areas."
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
We finally know what FBI Director Caspittel was in the
country for. America's Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced it
will set up its own standalone office in Wellington. So
Judith Collins is the Minister of Defense and she joins me. Now,
hello Judith, Hello Andrew, why have the FBI decided to
set up shop. In fact, I'm going to ask you
another question. I thought the FBI only worked internally within
(00:24):
America and the CIA was about external So why is
a FBI now in Wellington.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
A century as our counterpart with the New Zealand Security
Intelligence Service, so basically spies. FBI is more on tri
and national crime, and also obviously the intelligence agencies work
with the law enforcement agencies. But it's certainly a law
(00:51):
enforcement and intelligence cooperation.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Okay, So they are going to talk about the threat
of China, but they're also going to talk about the
threat of increased drug trades and general shenanigans within the
South Pacific exactly. So the.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Director explained today that he realized that New Zealand was
the only Five Eyes country that didn't have our own
FBI agency here is certainly we have had for many
years an FBI person here, but to turn it into
an actual agency that reports through to the Washington to
(01:27):
Cash Bertel's office rather than going through Canberra. So we're
not a sub branch anymore.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Will they actually have a storefront? Could I go along
to the FBI and knock on the door or will
it all be done in secrecy.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
That's all pretty secret that they're in the with the
obviously the US embassy. So look, the FBI and the
New Zealand Police as well as our security agencies have
long worked together, and you're talking about transnational crime, whether
it's cyber crime, ford organized crime generally money laundering, child exportation,
(02:03):
and also foreign intelligence threats. So the Agency office will
have responsibility not only for partnerships in New Zealand but
with Antarctica the work there, but also some more NWAYA and.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
They'll help our own fight against those issues.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah. Look, we have common threats, whether it's people trafficking fentanyl,
which is a big focus at the moment for the FBI,
but also metamphetamine, which is one of our big focus areas.
But we have common threats around transnational criminals.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
And this is good news really because with the election
of the Donald Trump administration. It was thought that the
America was going to become more inward looking and stop
looking outwards, but this shows that they are still committed
to being an outward looking power.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah. Well, I think it's incredibly important. I mean, clearly,
we have a population the size of Alabama and we
have enormous area to cover, and particularly around that transnational crime.
The US has enormous opportunities to help us with that,
and I think every New Zealander would say this is
a good thing.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Now, I know you'll tell me. This is an operational
issue for the Defense forces. But on a personal level,
were you disappointed that the head of the Navy, the
Rear Admiral, had to come out and scold drunken sailors. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Actually I felt for the Chief of Navy because nobody
wants to have to do that. And the factor is
that people need to remember that, you know, they don't
dry ships. Basically, they've got to be really careful in
the operation, but you cannot go crazy when you get
to port. And it's really important that we not have
(03:44):
these things happen. And I thought good on them.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
And will the agencies within the Defense Force still be
funded to help. I know this. There are sexual abuse
agencies within the Defense Forces. Will there be funding to
help the say as the soldiers in the m and
combat the evil drink?
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Oh well, everyone has to. I mean, I don't know
the detail on that, but I do know that the
Defence Force is a very seriously focused on its people
and I find them a great employer. In fact, I
look at some of the work they do for people
when whether it's health free health care or free dental care,
(04:25):
these are not things that most people in the outside
that Defence Force would get. So I can't imagine that
they're not doing an awful lot for their people.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Judith Colin's defenseminis So I think you for your time today.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks they'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
Ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
We finally know what FBI Director Caspittel was in the
country for. America's Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced it
will set up its own standalone office in Wellington. So
Judith Collins is the Minister of Defense and she joins me. Now,
hello Judith, Hello Andrew, why have the FBI decided to
set up shop. In fact, I'm going to ask you
another question. I thought the FBI only worked internally within
(00:24):
America and the CIA was about external So why is
a FBI now in Wellington.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
A century as our counterpart with the New Zealand Security
Intelligence Service, so basically spies. FBI is more on tri
and national crime, and also obviously the intelligence agencies work
with the law enforcement agencies. But it's certainly a law
(00:51):
enforcement and intelligence cooperation.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Okay, So they are going to talk about the threat
of China, but they're also going to talk about the
threat of increased drug trades and general shenanigans within the
South Pacific exactly. So the.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Director explained today that he realized that New Zealand was
the only Five Eyes country that didn't have our own
FBI agency here is certainly we have had for many
years an FBI person here, but to turn it into
an actual agency that reports through to the Washington to
(01:27):
Cash Bertel's office rather than going through Canberra. So we're
not a sub branch anymore.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Will they actually have a storefront? Could I go along
to the FBI and knock on the door or will
it all be done in secrecy.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
That's all pretty secret that they're in the with the
obviously the US embassy. So look, the FBI and the
New Zealand Police as well as our security agencies have
long worked together, and you're talking about transnational crime, whether
it's cyber crime, ford organized crime generally money laundering, child exportation,
(02:03):
and also foreign intelligence threats. So the Agency office will
have responsibility not only for partnerships in New Zealand but
with Antarctica the work there, but also some more NWAYA and.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
They'll help our own fight against those issues.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah. Look, we have common threats, whether it's people trafficking fentanyl,
which is a big focus at the moment for the FBI,
but also metamphetamine, which is one of our big focus areas.
But we have common threats around transnational criminals.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
And this is good news really because with the election
of the Donald Trump administration. It was thought that the
America was going to become more inward looking and stop
looking outwards, but this shows that they are still committed
to being an outward looking power.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah. Well, I think it's incredibly important. I mean, clearly,
we have a population the size of Alabama and we
have enormous area to cover, and particularly around that transnational crime.
The US has enormous opportunities to help us with that,
and I think every New Zealander would say this is
a good thing.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Now, I know you'll tell me. This is an operational
issue for the Defense forces. But on a personal level,
were you disappointed that the head of the Navy, the
Rear Admiral, had to come out and scold drunken sailors. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Actually I felt for the Chief of Navy because nobody
wants to have to do that. And the factor is
that people need to remember that, you know, they don't
dry ships. Basically, they've got to be really careful in
the operation, but you cannot go crazy when you get
to port. And it's really important that we not have
(03:44):
these things happen. And I thought good on them.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
And will the agencies within the Defense Force still be
funded to help. I know this. There are sexual abuse
agencies within the Defense Forces. Will there be funding to
help the say as the soldiers in the m and
combat the evil drink?
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Oh well, everyone has to. I mean, I don't know
the detail on that, but I do know that the
Defence Force is a very seriously focused on its people
and I find them a great employer. In fact, I
look at some of the work they do for people
when whether it's health free health care or free dental care,
(04:25):
these are not things that most people in the outside
that Defence Force would get. So I can't imagine that
they're not doing an awful lot for their people.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Judith Colin's defenseminis So I think you for your time today.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
news talks they'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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