Two far-right groups join NZ’s terror list

The Government has quietly designated two United States farright organisations, the Proud Boys and The Base, as terrorist organisations.

The legal designation of the two groups – signed off by the prime minister – was made on June 20, and made public in the New Zealand Gazette on June 27.

Police Minister Chris Hipkins said both groups posed a ‘‘significant threat’’, though he had no information suggesting the groups were operating in New Zealand.

‘‘These are white-supremacist terrorist groups, and we don’t believe, and I don’t think New Zealanders believe, that any New Zealander should be enabling and supporting them.’’

The designation means people who recruit for the groups or provide them with material support could be prosecuted under the

Terrorism Suppression Act.

The Proud Boys, a fascist organisation aligned with former US president Donald Trump, were designated a terrorist organisation for their part in an attack of the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. The riot at the Capitol has also been called an insurrection or attempted coup.

The Base, a white supremacist, neo-Nazi group, were designated a terrorist organisation for its planned violence to begin a ‘‘race war’’ in the United States. Two members of group were in 2021 sentenced to nine years in prison after they planned to attack a gunrights rally.

Though published on the Gazette, the designation of the two groups was not otherwise announced by the Government. Further details of the designation were only made public by police yesterday, after this story was first published.

A ‘‘statement of case’’ for the terrorist designation of the Proud Boys, published by police, ran 29

pages and mapped out the group’s history, fascist ideology, and connection with other comparable organisations.

The document also detailed evidence of the group organising its members prior to the attack on the Capitol, and its members actions during the attack.

The group’s involvement in the attack was consistent with ‘‘the definition of a terrorist act’’ under New Zealand law, the document said.

‘‘[The Proud Boys’] extreme as a high-profile congressional committee continued a highprofile series of public hearings into the event.

Intelligence Agencies Minister Andrew Little said he would not say what the agencies were doing ‘‘operationally’’, when asked if other white supremacist groups were being considered for terrorist designation.

‘‘One of the terrorist threats we’re dealing with at all times is the white identity extremist violent threat.’’

‘‘[The Proud Boys’] extreme right-wing ideology is founded on racist and fascist principles.’’

NZ police ‘‘statement of case’’