New Zealand is "uncomfortable" with the prospect of expanding the scope of the Five Eyes intelligence network beyond information sharing, foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta says.
"We are uncomfortable with expanding the remit of the Five Eyes," she said. "We would much rather prefer to look for multilateral opportunities to express our interests."
Mahuta, who took office in November, said New Zealand wasn't interested in joining the U.S., Britain, Canada and Australia in looking beyond intelligence matters and into human rights issues and security concerns.
"New Zealand has been very clear...not to invoke the Five Eyes as the first point of contact of messaging out on a range of issues that really exist out of the remit of the Five Eyes," the foreign minister said.
The country shares a warmer relationship with China than other Five Eyes member states and is the only member not to participate in a statement condemning the implementation of the Hong Kong national security law last year.
New Zealand has also not issued sanctions against China officials over alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang - though it applauded similar actions by other countries.
At a separate event Mahuta spoke warmly of the relationship between the two countries.
"Our particular customs, traditions and values aren't always the same, but need to be maintained and respected," she said. "And on that virtue we have together developed the mature relationship we have."
The Five Eyes network dates back to the early 1940s, when a handful of western nations came together to share signals intelligence in the last days of World War Two, though the group's remit has grown in recent years to encompass political issues particularly focused on China.
Last year, China foreign ministry representative Zhao Lijian threatened to "poke out" the Five Eyes for undermining local affairs.
"No matter how many eyes they have (they must) be careful not to get poked in the eye," he said.
