The National Terrorism Threat Level has been revised from Medium to Low, reflecting a change in assessment of the likelihood of a terrorist attack, Director-General of Security Rebecca Kitteridge said today.

The level has been lowered after an annual review concluded that the likelihood of a terrorist attack is now assessed as a “realistic possibility”.

“While the lowered threat level is a positive sign, the lowering of the threat level does not mean there is no threat,” Rebecca Kitteridge says. “An attack remains a realistic possibility and individuals of concern are still being investigated by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS).

“The safety of New Zealand and New Zealanders always remains NZSIS’s key mission. There will be no decrease in the effort made by NZSIS to detect and investigate violent extremism.”

“It is also important to note that the National Terrorism Threat Level does not reflect levels of hate speech or violent rhetoric,” says Ms Kitteridge.

“The purpose of the National Terrorism Threat Level is to inform the national security system about the likelihood of a terrorist attack in New Zealand,” Ms Kitteridge says. “It is based on an assessment at a point in time by the multi-agency Combined Threat Assessment Group (CTAG).”

The Threat Level and the assessment that underpins it enables relevant government agencies to ensure that they are appropriately placed to respond and to mitigate risk.

CTAG’s assessment is based on a range of classified and open source material.  The shift to a Low threat level reflects the fact that CTAG has not sighted information to indicate New Zealand is currently the target of credible and specific attack plans by violent extremist groups or individuals, either based in New Zealand or offshore.

CTAG’s assessment was consulted widely within New Zealand’s national security system before being finalised.

Ms Kitteridge says that the National Terrorism Threat Level is continually evaluated and could change at any time.

“New Zealanders should still be alert to the signs of violent extremism and report behaviours and activities they find concerning.

“If anybody sees suspicious or concerning behaviour please contact the Police on 105 or the NZSIS through our website.  For information that is urgent or life-threatening, always call 111.”