US Proud Boys no longer terrorists in NZ as designation lapses

Members of the American far-right group the Proud Boys are no longer considered terrorists in New Zealand, as the group’s terrorist designation has expired.

A notice published on the New Zealand Gazette on June 19 confirmed the group’s 2022 designation as a terrorist entity under the Terrorism Suppression Act had lapsed.

A spokesperson of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said the Proud Boys remained “on the radar” of the Terrorism Designation Working Group.

“[I]n due course, officials will consider any new information that arises to support a decision around whether there are reasonable grounds to designate it in accordance with the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002.”

While the statement didn’t address why the designation wasn’t renewed, it detailed how such an action required an entity to “either knowingly carrying out, or knowingly participating in the carrying out, of an act of terrorism”.

“Designating any group as a terrorist entity is a significant step, and it is important any recommendation to do so is in accordance with our legislation.”

Members of the Proud Boys were recently pardoned by US President Donald Trump for their part in the Capitol riot in 2021.

In January, the Guardian reported comments from Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio to conspiracy theorist Info Wars host Alex Jones that he was seeking retribution.

“The people who did this, they need to feel the heat, they need to be put behind bars, and they need to be prosecuted,” he said.

The argument that informed the 2022 designation explained how the Proud Boys “deliberately deploy a tactic called crypto-fascism” intended to disguise extremism to increase its appeal to more mainstream audiences.

It referenced how the group commonly used a non-white chairman as a “foil against accusations of white supremacy”.

“However, when this mask has dropped the APB are easily recognisable as ideologically fascist.”

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.