Government is determined that New Zealand and New Zealanders be neither the target nor source of terrorist activities.
The designation of terrorist entities is one measure New Zealand takes to contribute to the international campaign against terrorism. The Terrorism Suppression Act 2002 (TSA) provides for a list of terrorist entities to be established and maintained in New Zealand. Police are responsible for coordinating requests to the Prime Minister for designation as a terrorist entity.
A designation under New Zealand legislation freezes the assets of terrorist entities and makes it a criminal offence to materially support the activities of the designated terrorist entity, or to provide or collect funds for use by a designated entity. It also makes it a criminal offence to participate in the activities of a designated terrorist entity where participation enhances the ability of an entity to carry out or participate in the carrying out a terrorist act, deal with the property of the designated terrorist entity, make property or financial services available to the entity, or recruit members of a designated entity.
New Zealand’s obligations to the United Nations
New Zealand has international counterterrorism obligations under a number of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.
Lists associated with Resolutions 1267/1989/2253 and 1988
The UNSC 1267/1989/2253 and 1988 Committees specifically obliges New Zealand to take action against those terrorist entities it lists. These UNSC-listed entities (ISIL (Daesh), Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and organisations) are included as designated terrorist entities in the TSA.
More information on these entities are available on Lists associated with Resolutions 1267/1989/2253 and 1988.
Lists associated with Resolution 1373
UNSC Resolution 1373 obliges New Zealand (among other things) to outlaw the financing of, participation in and recruitment to, terrorist entities. The Resolution does not specifically identify those terrorist entities, so effectively leaves it to Member States to identify the entities against which they should act.
More information on the entities designated unilaterally by New Zealand are available on Lists associated with Resolution 1373.