Soldier espionage court martial

The story so far

A Linton-based soldier with links to far-right groups faced a court martial over espionage-related charges laid in 2020, the first such trial in a New Zealand military setting.^{14, 18 Aug 2025} The soldier pleaded guilty to attempted espionage and other charges, admitting handing over sensitive military information to an undercover officer posing as a foreign agent.^{18, 20 Aug 2025} At Linton Military Camp, the soldier was sentenced to two years in military detention and dismissed from service.^{20 Aug 2025} The soldier became the country's first person convicted of attempted espionage, and name suppression may be removed.^{22 Aug 2025} The New Zealand Defence Force has appealed the sentence, calling it manifestly inadequate.^{5 Sep 2025}

Latest

The Defence Force has appealed the two-year sentence, describing it as manifestly inadequate.^{5 Sep 2025}

Key moments

1. 14 Aug 2025Court martial on 17 charges expected to begin; identity suppressed.
2. 18 Aug 2025Soldier pleads guilty to attempted espionage and other charges.
3. 20 Aug 2025Sentenced to two years military detention and dismissed from service.
4. 22 Aug 2025First conviction for attempted espionage in New Zealand.
5. 5 Sep 2025Defence Force appeals sentence as manifestly inadequate.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.