WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A New Zealand soldier has admitted to attempted espionage in a landmark military court case, marking the first conviction for spying in the nation’s history.
The soldier, whose identity has been suppressed, pleaded guilty on Monday to three charges: attempted espionage, possession of objectionable material, and accessing a military computer system for dishonest purposes. Each carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison. A military panel is expected to deliver his sentence in the coming days.
Court documents revealed the soldier believed he was communicating with a foreign agent in 2019 when he attempted to share classified information, including base telephone directories, maps, network login details, and assessments of security weaknesses. In reality, he was in contact with an undercover police officer investigating extremist groups following the Christchurch mosque attacks.
A search of his hard drive uncovered a copy of the Christchurch gunman Brenton Tarrant’s livestreamed video and manifesto — both banned under New Zealand law. The soldier admitted to possessing the material but denied supporting Tarrant’s ideology.
The case arose from police scrutiny of right-wing nationalist groups after the March 2019 massacre, in which 51 Muslim worshippers were killed. Prosecutors said the soldier had expressed a desire to defect and align with foreign powers.
Based at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North, the soldier had originally faced 17 charges, which were reduced after his guilty plea. His lawyer, Steve Winter, argued that his client’s extremist associations were little more than friendships built on shared views, and not evidence of ideological support for terrorism.
The conviction underscores New Zealand’s heightened vigilance against extremist threats and the unprecedented nature of espionage within its armed forces. Authorities have declined further comment until sentencing is complete.
