Soldier found guilty of attempted espionage in New Zealand’s first spying conviction

Court martial heard soldier was caught offering to share military base maps and photographs to an undercover officer of an unnamed foreign nation

A military court has convicted a New Zealand soldier of attempted espionage for a foreign power – the first spying conviction in the country’s history.

The soldier was caught offering to pass military base maps and photographs to an undercover officer posing as an agent for the foreign nation, the court martial heard.

The man’s name, the country he attempted to spy for and the name of the undercover officer who snared him were all suppressed by the court.

The serviceman wiped away tears as evidence was recounted against him, with close relatives present in court to give support.