Action Zealandia, New Zealand based Neo Nazi and Proud Boys wannabe group.
Action Zealandia is a New Zealand based Nazi group, with both an on and offline presence. This group has multiple branches, across multiple regions in New Zealand, including Auckland, Waikato and Nelson. This is not an exhaustive list of regions. They use social media platforms to spread their hate, and their computers and software to create, publish and print, recruitment material.
They are a very hateful group who has gained local media attention for their bigotry and extremist views and having extremist individuals as members. They engage in all forms of bigotry, from Anti-Semitism to Islamophobia, transphobia to misogyny. Their group is also aimed at white men, with the sole purpose of radicalizing them.
This is what their logo looks like. It makes a mockery of the New Zealand flag, and perhaps the coat of arms as well.
They were formed, in 2019, after the far right group (also New Zealand based) Dominion Movement shuttered it's group for good in the wake of the Christchurch Mosque attacks. Action Zealandia started having a presence on Twitter, not long after their formation - with the first account lasting right until April 2020, during the first lockdown in New Zealand, which saw them losing their first account to a permanent suspension. Their second account, @hailzealandia, is up, active and running.
Any current Twitter account that they manage is an evasion of a permanent suspension of their previous account, @ActionZealandia. Any new account that they will potentially create on Twitter is evading the suspension of that account, too.
Here are some of the activities that they do offline - from community based activities such as picking up rubbish through to promoting their group by placing and distributing their posters and stickers onto signposts, traffic light posts and billboards. They also do banner drops on bridges over the main state highways.
Be careful though - these Nazis are partaking in community based activities and promoting fitness, for a reason. They want to appeal to young, white people, so they deliberately polish their group by re-purposing it to make it appear that the group cares about the community and issues that concern them, especially surrounding the economy, race relations and gender issues. They also want to make themselves look non-violent and non-extremist so that they can appeal to a younger crowd.
Be careful though - these Nazis are partaking in community based activities and promoting fitness, for a reason. They want to appeal to young, white people, so they deliberately polish their group by re-purposing it to make it appear that the group cares about the community and issues that concern them, especially surrounding the economy, race relations and gender issues. They also want to make themselves look non-violent and non-extremist so that they can appeal to a younger crowd.
UPDATE: 28/01/2021
Action Zealandia's most recent video has been hidden behind a warning asking people to sign in to confirm their age. This means that YouTube users, including those of Action Zealandia's followers and fanbase, cannot view this specific video if they are under the age of 18.
Action Zealandia's most recent video has been hidden behind a warning asking people to sign in to confirm their age. This means that YouTube users, including those of Action Zealandia's followers and fanbase, cannot view this specific video if they are under the age of 18.
It's some good news for us - one of their videos will be shown to a smaller audience, thanks to teenage and adolescent followers not being able to view it.
UPDATE: 31/01/2021
Action Zealandia has blocked a bunch of people they suspect that want to report them. Included in the Tweet is an ableist slur.
Action Zealandia has blocked a bunch of people they suspect that want to report them. Included in the Tweet is an ableist slur.
Action Zealandia will have no luck blocking me, because, as I have mentioned it multiple times before - and have included it in my pinned tweet, blocking @clampdownonhate and @failedguideline will not work, because I have multiple accounts that I can report from.
UPDATE: 3/02/2021
Members of the Waikato branch of Action Zealandia go on a bushwalk at the Pirongia Forest park.
Members of the Waikato branch of Action Zealandia go on a bushwalk at the Pirongia Forest park.
They are using the national park for recruitment purposes to further their extremist and Nazi causes. I will follow up with the Waikato council about this, especially that young people - as well as families - visit this park very often, and it is of a serious concern. I will update you when and if the council responds.
UPDATE: 2/02/2021
Action Zealandia does yet another banner drop in Grey Lynn, Auckland.
Action Zealandia does yet another banner drop in Grey Lynn, Auckland.
We have made the Auckland Council aware of this.
We are also aware that Action Zealandia has replied to a teenager, and disturbingly, encouraged him to join the group.
Sadly, it appears that New Zealand doesn't have a law against recruiting young people, especially minors and children, into Nazi groups to radicalize them.
UPDATE: 07/02/2021
It looks as though Action Zealandia has created a new account to promote further hatred....
It looks as though Action Zealandia has created a new account to promote further hatred....
The account was up for a very brief period of time, before getting suspended. However, we cannot verify this as a genuine Action Zealandia account, as it could possibly be an impostor or a parody.
But people were right to be concerned, after all, whether it was a fake/parody account, or a new account created by Action Zealandia.
But people were right to be concerned, after all, whether it was a fake/parody account, or a new account created by Action Zealandia.
People rightfully reported it as it violated the rules on ban evasion, platform manipulation and spam and hateful conduct.
UPDATE: 17/02/2021
Action Zealandia appropriates the NZ made logo trademark, leading to the Buy NZ made account issuing a warning of potential legal action against the extremist group.
Action Zealandia appropriates the NZ made logo trademark, leading to the Buy NZ made account issuing a warning of potential legal action against the extremist group.
In respect for the logo and Trademark, we've decided not to include the logo that otherwise would've been included in the screenshot.
Their page that the link goes to also includes the Trademark.
Their page that the link goes to also includes the Trademark.
The NZ Made Kiwi is a licensed trademark. Unauthorised use is liable to legal action. Any further illegal use of this trademark by Action Zealandia will be prosecuted. We are committed to equality and inclusion and reject racism or white supremacy in any form by anyone or group. https://t.co/Qu7cc0bwRe
— Buy New Zealand Made (@buynzmade) February 21, 2021
UPDATE: 26/02/2021
Action Zealandia's bitchute channel has been made unavailable in our country.
Action Zealandia's bitchute channel has been made unavailable in our country.
Finally, an unexpected but a decent move from BitChute. Your turn, Twitter.
UPDATE: June 2021
Twitter bans Action Zealandia's ban evading account, @HailZealandia, for good. Another reincarnation of theirs is also banned.
They also lost their YouTube account for multiple violations on hate speech.
UPDATE: 31/01/2022
Action Zealandia members went to Karangahake George, plastering stickers around the area for recruitment purposes. We have made the Waikato Regional Council and the Hauraki District Council aware of this.
Action Zealandia members went to Karangahake George, plastering stickers around the area for recruitment purposes. We have made the Waikato Regional Council and the Hauraki District Council aware of this.
We hope that the Hauraki District Council and the Waikato Regional Council takes this matter seriously and try to identify and ban the group responsible for the stickers.
We've received an update from the Hauraki District Council that the Department of Conservation has been notified.
We've received an update from the Hauraki District Council that the Department of Conservation has been notified.
On the same day, Auckland members plaster stickers in Albany, which is north of Auckland.
We have notified the Auckland Council about this.
UPDATE: 11/02/2022
Action Zealandia infiltrates the New Zealand 2022 convoy protest this evening and uploads a video showing a building providing MPs secure access to parliament. As a result, parliament has had to up their security.
Action Zealandia infiltrates the New Zealand 2022 convoy protest this evening and uploads a video showing a building providing MPs secure access to parliament. As a result, parliament has had to up their security.
This Action Zealandia video was taken from LT McGuinness's construction site in Bowen House. This is the building providing secure access for staff to the Beehive.
— Paparoa (@Paparoa3) February 10, 2022
We have spotted Action Zealandia members joining the protest in the evening. pic.twitter.com/aEXhCLnEa8