Risk of jihadists returning

Foreign fighters returning to New Zealand from the Middle East as Islamic State crumbles are a ‘‘risk’’, says the prime minister.

The threat was among issues raised in talks between Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, in Auckland with her counterpart Murray McCully and John Key at the weekend.

Bishop said Australia had increased its support for police and the intelligence and security agencies in response to the threat.

‘‘As Isis comes under increasing pressure in Syria and Iraq, and particularly as a result of the Mosul offensive, there is an even greater risk that more foreign fighters will seek to leave and some will try to return to their home countries,’’ Bishop said.

Key said from Townsville that the number of potential fighters who could return to New Zealand is ‘‘considerably smaller than Australia’s issue’’.

‘‘Whether you’ll ultimately see a return of foreign fighters we don’t know, it’s always a risk because they are legally entitled to return to New Zealand, but we’ve made changes to our legislation ... to give us greater powers if those people do return,’’ he said. ‘‘Realistically all we can do is prepare as best we can, monitor them and see where they return to.’’

Bishop said there were about 110 Australians fighting in or engaged with a terrorist organisation in Syria and Iraq and she expected some of them would seek to return.

The Government has previously confirmed a handful of Kiwis are among the ranks of foreign ‘‘jihadis’’ who have flocked to Syria and Iraq in support of the Islamic State, some of them leaving via Australia. So-called ‘‘jihadi brides’’ from New Zealand had also left for Syria via Australia.