Wellington councillor Ray Chung tells NZSIS Chinese Embassy questioned him after Shen Yun dance
Wellington City Councillor Ray Chung told New Zealand’s spy agency he was questioned by Chinese Embassy officials after attending a controversial anti-Communist Party dance performance, the Herald understands.
The admission came during a recent briefing to councillors by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS), held after findings that local government has been “targeted by sophisticated foreign interference actors”.
Six people present at the June 26 meeting told the Herald Chung relayed the encounter during the briefing, which one councillor said “raised eyebrows” across the table. They spoke on the condition of anonymity as the briefing was confidential.
The sources said that Chung disclosed that he was invited to the Shen Yun “China before communism” show - an offshoot of religious movement Falun Gong which was banned in China in 1999.
According to those at the briefing, Chung said after attending the Shen Yun event, he was contacted by representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Wellington, and invited to a meeting where his presence at the show was questioned.
An article in The Epoch Times, a news outlet associated with Falun Gong, quoted Chung as saying he had “never seen such skilful dancing before” after attending a Shen Yun show at Wellington’s St. James Theatre on April 13, 2023.
Chung was appalled to hear the group were forbidden to perform in China, the article states.
“I think that’s terrible. I think that to actually ban performances like this is just really shocking, terrible,” Chung is quoted as saying.
Chung did not wish to comment on his meeting with Chinese Embassy officials or his comments to New Zealand’s spy agency when contacted by the Herald.
An NZSIS spokesperson confirmed the service had “engaged directly with elected members of Wellington City Council,” but said it did so in-confidence, and would not comment on specific issues raised.
“The NZSIS engages with a wide range of sectors, including local government, to raise awareness of national security risks to New Zealand such as foreign interference,” the spokesperson said.
“NZSIS engagement is also about ensuring participants are aware of the information and resources we provide to enable them to undertake their own risk assessments and due diligence in their roles.”
Unclassified NZSIS guidance for MPs and local government politicians warns elected representatives may be targeted by foreign interference because of their influence over public decision-making.
It advises them to report suspicious or unusual approaches by foreign officials and other foreign state-linked actors.
Mayor Andrew Little, who previously served as NZSIS and GCSB (Government Communications Security Bureau) Minister, said the recent session was held to give councillors “awareness about the threats they might face, get practical tips and guides for keeping themselves and council information safe, and know confidential ways to speak up”.
“I can’t confirm any contributions by councillors attending the session,” Little said.
The Chinese Embassy did not respond to requests for comment about the alleged meeting with Chung.
NZSIS director-general Andrew Hampton told the Herald last October local government was seen by interference actors as a softer target, and mayors, councillors and staff would need to be on high alert for hidden espionage threats.
The Chinese Embassy has repeatedly rejected this, hitting out at an earlier threat report as “entirely baseless”.
Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.