New Zealand says China is its most persistent state-backed cyber threat

New Zealand's National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) has identified China as the country's most persistent and capable state-backed cyber threat. In its annual Cyber Threat Report, the NCSC linked suspected state-sponsored cyber activity to actors from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, noting that "Of these nations, the People's Republic of China is the most persistent and capable state actor undertaking cyber activity in New Zealand." The report, released Thursday, stated that 86 of 369 nationally significant cyber incidents in the year to June 2026 had suspected links to state-sponsored actors, targeting government agencies, health, education, and IT sectors. The NCSC warned that geopolitical competition is increasingly manifesting in the South Pacific, with state-backed cyber espionage targeting governments and infrastructure, potentially affecting citizens and businesses.