Fears of political assassinations, car tampering and break-ins. Claims the New Zealand government is selling out the Five Eyes. Concerns a foreign state has coercive control of our economy.
In a new podcast series, Guyon Espiner and John Daniell investigate China's influence in New Zealand, and ask if we can continue to walk the thin red line between what some see as an evil empire, but others see as our greatest economic opportunity and the centre of a new world order.
Listen below, on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Two Chinese New Zealanders are killed while on a mission to warn of the dangers of the Chinese Communist Party. Their friends, left clutching bloodied fliers, continue spreading the message.
Monday, 28 June, 2021
Two dissidents die in a car crash. China expert Anne-Marie Brady reports break-ins at her house and office. A US National Security Advisor warns that Beijing wants "servitude". Should we be worried about the Chinese Communist Party? Or are we being paranoid?
Wednesday, 30 June, 2021
The Chinese Government has a propaganda super ministry. But how much influence does it have in New Zealand? And is development money from the CCP an opportunity or economic 'invasion'?
Friday, 2 July, 2021
As China becomes more assertive, human rights abuses are exposed and evidence grows of our politicians being played, where should New Zealand draw the line?
Monday, 5 July, 2021
TZE MING MOK
New Zealand-born writer, academic and human rights advocate of Chinese heritage. Lived in Beijing in the early 2000s
John Key
Former New Zealand Prime Minister (2008-2016)
Chen Weijian
Chinese dissident, writer and former publisher of the New Times, a Chinese language newspaper.
Davit Ding
Chinese dissident and writer, New Zealand representative of PEN China.
Stephen Noakes
Auckland University lecturer in politics and international relations. His work focuses on China.
Anne-Marie Brady
Internationally renowned China expert and Canterbury University Professor of Political Science. Her paper Magic Weapons lifted the lid on the United Front’s role in Chinese state influence operations. Global fellow of US think tank the Wilson Center.
HR McMaster
US General, writer and former national security advisor to President Donald Trump.
Haami Piripi
Chairperson, Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, and former Chief Executive of the Māori Language Commission.
Wayne Brown
Businessman, columnist and former Far North Mayor.
Catherine Churchman
Lecturer in Asian Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.
James Sun
Former President New Zealand Chinese Youth Foundation. Immigrated to New Zealand aged 12. Helps the United Front Works Department on a voluntary basis.
Sam
A New Zealand Uyghur, who fears his parents are in Chinese concentration camps. Sam is not his real name.
Rhys Ball
Massey University lecturer in security studies and former SIS officer.
Louisa Wall
Labour MP for Manurewa and member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).
Henry Liu
Chinese language translator for New Zealand prime ministers over more than three decades.
Written and presented by
John Daniell and Guyon Espiner
Producer
Justin Gregory
Sound engineer
Blair Stagpoole
Art direction and design
Vinay Ranchhod
Executive producers
Veronica Schmidt and Tim Watkin
Built with Shorthand
