Formats
Terrorist designations, unless renewed, expire three years after they are made.
The process for redesignating includes the multi-agency Terrorist Designation Working Group providing advice and recommendations to the National Security Board. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) then provides a briefing for the Prime Minister, including the National Security Board advice, on whether the Prime Minister could and should designate.
The American Proud Boys was first designated as a terrorist entity in June 2022 with an expiry of 19 June 2025.
A written briefing dated 30 May 2025 was provided by DPMC to the Prime Minister’s Office on the designations of the Base and the American Proud Boys. On 16 June 2025, the Prime Minister received an oral briefing from the Chief Executive of DPMC on whether the American Proud Boys could and should continue to be designated as a terrorist group under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002.
The Chief Executive of DPMC recommended, after reviewing the assessment against criteria in the Terrorism Suppression Act, that the designation for the American Proud Boys be allowed to lapse. The Chief Executive of DPMC subsequently asked officials to consider any new evidence that would support a designation of the American Proud Boys under the Act.
This proactive release includes all of the relevant briefing material and a record of the oral briefing on the decision process relating the American Proud Boys and the Base.
More information on terrorist designations, including the current list of designated entities, can be found on the New Zealand Police website at: Designated terrorist entities.
Documents released#
The following documents have been proactively released by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Some parts of this information release would not be appropriate to release and, if requested, would be withheld under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Where this is the case, the relevant section of the Act that would apply has been identified. Where information has been withheld, no public interest has been identified that would outweigh the reasons for withholding it.
Key to redaction codes:
- section 6(a), to protect the security or defence of New Zealand or the international relations of the Government of New Zealand
- section 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of individuals
- section 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinion
- section 9(2)(h), to maintain legal professional privilege
- section 9(2)(k), to prevent disclosure or use for improper gain or advantage.
A small amount of correspondence has also been withheld in full under s9(2)(g)(i).
Key Documents#
| Item | Date | Document description | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item 1 | 21 May 2025 | National Security Board (NSB) Paper: Renewal of Terrorist Designations: The Base and the American Proud Boys Annex 1: Background to the Designation of Terrorist Entities in New Zealand | Some information withheld under: s6(a) s9(2)(h) |
| Item 2 | 21 May 2025 | National Security Board (NSB) Minutes | Some information withheld under: Some information not in scope |
| Item 3 | 30 May 2025 | Briefing: Terrorist Designations: Renewal of The Base and the American Proud Boys as terrorist entities Attachment A: Procedural and legal considerations for terrorist designations | Some information withheld under: s6(a) s9(2)(a) s9(2)(h) |
| Item 4 | 17 Jun 2025 | Email from DPMC Chief Executive to the Executive Director, DPMC National Security Group: Designations: The Base and Proud Boys | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 5 | 24 Jun 2025 | Email from DPMC Chief Executive to members of the National Security Board (NSB): TSA Designations: American ProudBoys | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 6 | 17 Jun 2025 | Briefing: Terrorist Designation: Renewal of The Base as a terrorist entity Attachment A: Procedural and legal considerations for terrorist designations | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) s9(2)(h) |
Related correspondence and documents held by the Prime Minister’s office and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet#
| Item | Date | Document description | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item 1 | 6 May 2025 | FW: Designations papers - May NSB. | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 2 | 8 May 2025 | Final version of NSB paper | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 3 | 9 May 2025 | RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Final version of NSB paper | Some information withheld under: Some duplicate information. |
| Item 4 | 9 May 2025 | NSB papers for 21 May- joint papers to come Attachment: Joint NHB/NSB Annotated Agenda | Some information withheld under: Some information not in scope |
| Item 5 | 20 May 2025 | RE: Proud Boys | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 6 | 20 May 2025 | RE: Upcoming designations advice for the PM's decision | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 7 | 10 Jun 2025 | RE: Redesignation of the base and American proud boys | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) s9(2)(g)(i) |
| Item 8 | 29 May 2025 | FW: Terrorist Designations: Renewal of The Base and the American Proud Boys as terrorist entities Attachments: Documents attached to this email are included in proactive release of key documents to be published on the DPMC website at: Publications | Some information withheld under: s6(a) s9(2)(a) |
| Item 9 | 10 Jun 2025 | Proud Boys terrorist designation info for Friday | Some information withheld under: Some information not in scope |
| Item 10 | 16 Jun 2025 | Terrorist designation reactive talking points Attachment: Designations: American Proud Boys and The Base | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) s9(2)(g)(i) |
| Item 11 | 19 Jun 2025 | Fw: Terrorist Designations Update | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 12 | 19 Jun 2025 | Re: Draft reactive lines for review | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 13 | 21 Jun 2025 | RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Proud Boys designation [SEC=IN CONFIDENCE] | Some information withheld under: s6(a) s9(2)(a) |
| Item 14 | 23 Jun 2025 | Designations | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 15 | 26 Jun 2025 | Response to media - American Proud Boys | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 16 | 26 Jun 2025 | RE: [Withheld under s9(2)(a)] re American Proud Boys terrorist designation | Some information withheld under: s6(a) s9(2)(a) |
| Item 17 | 30 Jun 2025 | RE: Proud Boys terrorist designation | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
| Item 18 | 2 Jul 2025 | RE: Takeaways from the APB conversation with Ben | Some information withheld under: Some information not in scope |
| Item 19 | 2 Jul 2025 | National Security Board Annotated Agenda | Some information not in scope |
| Item 20 | 2 Jul 2025 | Draft: Meeting Minutes—National Security Board | Some information not in scope |
| Item 21 | 10 Jul 2025 | RE: [Withheld under s9(2)(a)] designation media query draft response | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) s9(2)(g)(i) |
| Item 22 | 11 Jul 2025 | Talking points for the PM week of 14 July - Proud Boys Attachment: Aide-Mémoire: Talking Points | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) s9(2)(g)(i) |
| Item 23 | 16 Jul 2025 | RE: Proud Boys Qs on bridge run | Some information withheld under: s9(2)(a) |
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