Threats against MPs rise 'astronomically', Speaker says

Threats against New Zealand MPs have risen "astronomically" in recent years, Speaker Gerry Brownlee says. RNZ

Brownlee said the increase over the past three years had required Parliament to work more closely with police. He described the current arrangement with New Zealand Police as the strongest protocol Parliament has ever had.

The Security Information, Risk and Advisory Service, Parliament's specialist security team, handled 216 requests for advice or support between 28 September and 18 October. It was deployed 81 times over the same three-week period. RNZ

Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said the team supported MPs at public events, while travelling, during protests and when faced with threatening behaviour. The service has been expanded, with extra capacity added ahead of the election amid fears security risks would increase.

Ahead of Election 2026, organisers of campaign events were told to call in extra security amid increased threats and harassment against politicians. NZ Herald

In May, the Parliamentary Service had said staff felt hampered by MPs' "underwhelming" engagement with security efforts, despite the rise in threats. RNZ