Download Terrorist designations Q and A

Q&A

Why has the Government only decided to go beyond the UN list of
designated terrorist entities now when a number of other countries have
been listing other terrorist groups for years?
New Zealand has already designated hundreds of terrorist entities that have been
listed by the United Nations. This is the first time we have designated non-UN
listed entities. The Prime Minister’s power under the Terrorism Suppression Act to
make such designations is a discretionary one. This Government has signalled it
is according priority to terrorist designations as part of our efforts to strengthen the
national counter-terrorism framework.
It is important to recognise that each country’s legislative basis for designation is
different, and that designation is not an easy process. Given criminal offences flow
from a New Zealand designation, the Government cannot designate lightly. There
must be reasonable grounds for believing the entity is involved in terrorism, and
cases must be worked through carefully.

Why has the Government chosen to designate these four groups?
There is no particular significance in the selection of these four groups. This
Government has signalled it is according priority to terrorist designations, and we
are also considering the designation of other groups.

What other groups are you looking at designating under this process?
We cannot make public the names of groups that we may look to designate as
this would undermine some of the effectiveness of the designation. For example,
if a terrorist entity had assets in New Zealand and became aware of a planned
designation, it could move the assets elsewhere.

Why are these entities not included in the UN designation list?
The UN list of terrorist entities is limited to Al Qaeda, the Taleban and their
associates. This reflects the grave concern amongst the international community
about the attacks perpetrated by these groups during the 1990s and then the
September 11 2001 attacks on the United States in particular.

Do these designations mean we have terrorists in New Zealand?
The designations are not a response to terrorist activity in New Zealand. New
Zealand is fortunate that currently we do not face a significant risk of terrorist
attacks within our borders. Terrorist designations are not just about shutting down
current activities of terrorist groups in particular countries. Designations are
important in building an international bulwark to constrain the operating space of
terrorist groups around the world. New Zealand does not wish to be seen by
terrorists as a place in which they can potentially do business.

How will the designations be implemented in New Zealand and what does it
mean for New Zealanders?
It is a criminal offence to deal with the property of - or make property or financial
services available to - designated groups. It is also an offence to participate in the
activities of designated groups to enhance their ability to carry out terrorist acts,
and to recruit members to the group. These offences are in addition to other
offences relating to support for terrorist activities, such as fundraising and
harbouring terrorists which are criminal offences whether a group is designated or
not.
If any member of the public has information about terrorist activity occurring in
New Zealand, or New Zealanders giving material support to terrorist entities
overseas, then they should report this activity to the Police.

Will the designations make New Zealand interests overseas a target for
those groups?
The groups selected have already been designated by many other countries. It is
unlikely that New Zealand companies or New Zealanders overseas will be put at
greater risk as a consequence of the designations.