Critical writer infiltrates hate group

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A Dunedin student has spent six “stressful” months undercover with one of New Zealand’s largest white supremacist groups and wants to make sure they can’t indoctrinate anyone else.

Student magazine Critic Te Arohi recently published the findings of editor Elliot Weir, who spent six months as a member of Action Zealandia, a far-right group.

The group has 30 active members across the country.

The investigation uncovered plots to spread disinformation about the Covid-19 vaccination and plans to influence political parties.

The group recently attempted to make August 9 White Lives Matter Day yesterday, with banners and posters leading up to the day.

Weir, who is not binary, said the investigation was as interesting as it was toxic.

Over the past six months, Weir has spent time meeting, chatting online, and engaging in far-right activism with members of the group.

Pretending to be a hateful person cost them dearly and on several occasions they thought they had blown their blanket.

“I’m not an actor,” they said.

“It’s stressful to pretend you’re a hateful person.”

They said seeing extremely hateful opinions and having to echo the group regularly desensitized them to things they saw throughout the day.

What bothered them quickly became tame in comparison.

They had joined the group to put up posters in Dunedin and a large banner in Wellington.

They undertook the investigation to help slow the spread of hateful disinformation.

The group existing and speaking in a public place was enough to cause harm, Weir said.

Removing hate groups was essential as it created a barrier that prevented impressionable people from being brainwashed.

The group did not have an active presence in Dunedin, but they wanted to further expand their influence throughout the city.

“They’re not going to be successful, I can tell you that,” Weir said.

“Especially not after that.

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