NZ cops on an “off duty tourism trip” to the totalitarian capital of the world, and simultaneously NZ takes a nosedive into mass surveillance. With digital currency set to replace cash, Social Credit is just around the corner. MH

This all happened around October this year. two months ago. But is just now making the news. No one however seems to have connected the stories. Guess it’s just coincidence then.

Andrew Little: Police trip to China raises influence concerns

RNZ

16 Dec, 2024 01:11 PM

• Andrew Little claims a police trip to China was a ‘classic effort’ by China to ‘curry favour’.
• The trip, involving 33 police staff, was described as ‘private’ and ‘self-funded’ to boost cultural competency.
• Little urged police to scrutinise the hospitality received, emphasising the need for transparency and disclosure.

By Anneke Smith of RNZ

Former spy minister Andrew Little says a police trip to China looks like a “classic effort” by the Chinese government to “curry favour” with New Zealand authorities.

A group of 33 police staff visited China in October in what the police say was a “private, self-funded trip” to increase cultural competency.

Political scientist Anne-Marie Brady [An outspoken CCP critic and whistleblower MH] said it has all the hallmarks of a political interference operation.

Little, former Minister for the NZSIS and GCSB, said it looked like a bid to build influence…READ MORE

Seems like a case of the pot calling the kettle black on Little’s part, as his Ardern-led Labour government displayed some overtly CCP-inspired Covid mandates straight out of the Lock Step Scenario, complete with digital passports suspiciously like those that have been in use in China since well before Covid.

However, here’s the other controversial thing that happened in October.

Note the emphasis on “safety”. These innovations are always “for your safety” regardless of the underlying agenda:

Solar powered camera making school drop-offs safer

Two months into a six-month trial, a solar-powered camera mounted outside a Christchurch school is helping to improve driver behaviour, and there are plans for six more across the city.

The Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) camera is mounted outside St Thomas of Canterbury School on Middlepark Road, where it operates from 8.15am – 9.15am and 2.30pm – 3.30pm.

Christchurch City Council Transport Operations Manager Stephen Wright says they have many requests from schools for parking officers to monitor driver behaviour during drop-off and pick-up times, but resources are limited.

“This camera can be moved from one location to another as needed, is completely solar powered, has a memory card and SIM card installed, and built-in license plate recognition software, so it automatically detects a vehicle in a specified zone and records a video of the offending vehicle.”

The camera picks up on vehicles using the cycle lane and parking over double yellow lines outside St Thomas of Canterbury School.

The trial on Middlepark Road was preceded by a warning period between 26 August – 13 October, where the camera was operational but only warning letters were issued for infringements. During this time 63 warning notices were sent. Signs were also installed 50 metres either side of the camera, to raise awareness that the cameras were there. 

“Since the trial began on 14 October, we’ve seen a significant improvement with compliance in and around the cycle path and broken yellow lines outside St Thomas of Canterbury,” Mr Wright says. 

“To date, we have issued 58 infringement notices to vehicles for driver infringements and during the week beginning 25 November, only three infringement notices were issued, so it’s good to see a downward trend.”

He adds that there are also benefits from a health and safety standpoint as officers are not required to be onsite to enforce.

“This is a big positive, as our officers encounter a high level of abuse during school enforcement. While it is disappointing to see a few repeat offenders, we hope that over time we will continue to see positive behaviour change. It’s just making sure that everyone has access to safe and reliable roadways.”

Solar powered camera making school drop-offs safer : Newsline

But wait, there’s more!

Software for new supermarket bodycams linked to police number plate technology

Two multinational companies with close ties to the New Zealand police have teamed up on anti-crime surveillance inside stores.

The new partnership integrates the software system used to recognise number plates on cars, with bodycams…

“This is a global integration, US focused,” said Auckland-based Auror, a global player in automated number plate recognition (ANPR).

Its new partner, $35-billion US giant Axon, is a leading provider of bodycams to law enforcement in the US and Australia, and more recently expanded into retail.

The New Zealand police have existing contracts with both Axon – for tasers and to store evidence overseas – and with Auror. Officers access its ANPR network that links to over 5000 CCTV cameras, hundreds of times a day.

In response to questions from RNZ, the police said in a statement they were able to access bodycam footage…READ MORE

“US focused”? Axon has meanwhile faced legal challenge over its alleged connections to (drum roll please) China.

Plaintiffs allege that the Bodycams each contain Quectel chips, which are linked to the Chinese government, and thus the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”). (Id. at 5 ¶ 5.) According to Plaintiffs, the presence of the Quectel chips “create a risk of unauthorized access and surveillance, compromising the safety and security of both law enforcement personnel and the public.” (Id.) Moreover, Plaintiffs allege that use of the Bodycams at high-profile events pose significant risks of espionage, (Id. at 21 ¶ 8), and raise concerns about real-time surveillance capabilities such that the CCP could interfere with the upcoming elections in the United States.

After Defendant rebuked Plaintiffs attempt to purchase units of the Bodycam while posing as a private security company, (Doc. 24 at 8), Plaintiffs purchased four of the Bodycams from Chinese online marketplace Alibaba. (Doc. 1 at 24-25 ¶ 13.) Upon disassembling one of the Bodycams, Plaintiffs allege that each included a Subscriber Identity Module (“SIM”) card from AT&T, which only operates in the United States, and  “advanced Chinese Quectel real-time streaming chips.” (Id. at 25-26 ¶ 14.) Plaintiffs contacted Defendant to express concerns about the presence of the Quectel chips.

SOURCE: Gov’t.GPT Inc. v. Axon Enter., No. CV-24-01869-PHX-SMB | Casetext Search + Citator

One would assume that similar concerns should be raised over the solar-powered traffic cams then?

Interesting related link: China’s strength in IoT could be a cybersecurity nightmare

Welcome to the 2025 New World Order surveillance state. “For Your Safety”