The suspension began after my three children, wife and I were detained by NZSIS at Wellington International Airport on 20 October 2022.
The suspension is still ongoing ...
Dear supporters,
Thank you so much for standing by me throughout this long and difficult journey.
On 20 October 2022, after returning from what had been a wonderful family holiday in Australia, my family and I were detained and searched at Wellington International Airport by NZSIS. At the time, my three children - then aged 8, 13, and 15 were also searched and interrogated by NZSIS agents.
This single operation has devastated every part of my life - my career, my family’s finances, my health, and our peace of mind.
As of today, it has been nearly three years since my suspension began, yet I still have not been told what the accusations are or why this has happened to me and my family.
The uncertainty and silence have been incredibly painful. All I have ever asked for is transparency, fairness, justice, and the chance to clear my name. But nearly three years on, I am still waiting for answers.
Your kindness, encouragement, and generosity continue to give me the strength to keep fighting for justice. I will not give up, and I will keep you informed as this unfolds.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for believing in me.
TODAY IS MATARIKI DAY IN AOTEAROA - A TIME TO REFLECT, HONOUR THE PAST, AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE.
IT ALSO MARKS 2 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS SINCE I WAS SUSPENDED ON 20 OCTOBER 2022.
The NZSIS made accusations against me, BUT TO THIS DAY, I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD WHAT THOSE ACCUSATIONS ARE!
The ongoing silence has been incredibly HARD - EMOTIONALLY, FINANCIALLY, AND MENTALLY.
Despite the challenges, I remain committed to seeking the truth, clearing my name and fighting for nature justice.
If you can, please consider sharing this page to help me continue this journey. YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTING - AND EVERY BIT HELPS.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH ME.
I have already spent over $140,000 in legal fees fighting for natural justice in this matter, and the costs keep mounting as the suspension drags on.
My family and I are facing significant financial distress!!!
TO THIS DAY, I STILL DON'T KNOW THE ACCUSATIONS MADE AGAINST ME BY NZSIS, MAKING IT IMPOSSOBLE FOR ME TO RESPOND.
I fear that their strategy may be to exhaust my resources, leaving me unable to continue funding my legal team.
...
I have been suspended for over two years and two months, but I have spent over three years of Christmas and New Years during my suspension.
In 2025, I will continue to fight for nature justice!
All the best!!!
On 20 October 2022, NZSIS detained my family (wife and three children aged 8, 13 and 15) and me at Wellington Airport when my family returned from a holiday in Australia. My employer subsequently suspended me.
It has been TWO years since the suspension.
I am innocent, but the suspension still continues.
For Fight For Nature Justice, Will This Matter Become A Court Case?
This matter has caused deep damage to my life, health, family, reputation, etc.
I will not back down. I will take the matter to court and fight for the sake of natural justice.
The suspension has now lasted over 16 months and has taken, and continues to take, a significant toll on my mental health and life, as well as that of my family.
To today, I cannot respond to the allegations, because I do not know what they are.
Historically, only in totalitarian regimes have governments accused innocent people without telling them what they were accused of. Now this is happening to me, an innocent New Zealand citizen.
I will spend my second SUSPENDED Christmas and New Year. Where is Nature Justice in New Zealand?
On 20 October 2022, NZSIS detained me and my family (wife and three children aged 8, 13 and 15) at Wellington Airport as my family returned from a holiday in Australia. My employer subsequently suspended me.
It has been one year since the suspension.
Although there is no evidence and I am innocent, the suspension still continues.
Many thanks to my legal team for helping me in this matter.
Although there is no evidence and I am innocent, the suspension is still ongoing. Many thanks to my legal team for helping me in this matter.
Today, I have been suspended from employment for ten months.
On 11 August 2023, my story hit the front page of The Post again, see attached picture and the story link below
www.thepost.co.nz/a/politics/350052330/alleged-china-spy-jason-zhao-investigated-employer-years-ago
A legal action is on the way to sue the government agency's comment as the comment has further disrepute me and breached the Privacy Act.
New Zealand has a strong justice system, one which I can continue to have faith in.
I am fully prepared to take my case to Court for justice.
I am innocent. All of accusations were framed up.
I have suffered and continue to suffer tremendously mentally, reputationally and financially.
I have to extend this page's closing date for another three months as I still keep fighting for justice.
NZSIS has written two different briefings on 21 October 2022 and 11 January 2023. Those two briefings describe me as a “SUPER SPY” who has carried out ultra-high criminal activities before becoming a Public Service Commission employee in August 2021, i.e. I have been doing these activities for many years, this damages New Zealand’s Defence, National Security, and International Relationship with … I will disclose both briefings in due course.
Why did a NZ government department accuse me, an innocent NZ citizen, without providing any evidence?
I feel like I am living in fear.
I am very distress and anxious.
Can I take this matter to the New Zealand Supreme Court for justice?
I have been suspended from work for over 228 days since 20 October 2022.
Till today (6 June 2023), I still did not know what I was accused for because NZSIS did not present any evidence to sustain their accusations to me.
The no-evidence accusations and the suspension have had badly hurt to my health and family financial status (due to the ongoing legal costs).
My health is getting worse day and day. I have consulted psychotherapist on the weekly basis and have been visited GP often since 20 October 2022.
I am an innocent New Zealand citizen, a father of three New Zealand kids.
Why did the NZ Government department accused me, but they did not tell me what I was accused for? Is this how New Zealand government departments operate in democracies?
On 13 March 2023, I terminated my contract with my former lawyer. The legal fees I paid to my former lawyer were $15,625.74.
A senior barrister with senior rank of Kings Counsel is acting for me in this matter since 13th March.
NZSIS refused to discuss my case according to Newshub's news dated 27 March 2023, see the news: www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/03/states-conducting-foreign-interference-against-new-zealand-could-cause-significant-harm-spies-refuse-to-discuss-jason-zhao-case.html
On 21 October 2022, NZSIS accused me poses an on-going risk to New Zealand's national security and insider threat risk to the PSC because they assessed my history of proactively disclosing privileged insights, information and reporting to conduct activities to the foreign Government through the course of my previous New Zealand Government employment.
Note: my previous service in Government (before PSC) was 13 years from 2008 to 2021.
More than six months have passed since 21st October. NZSIS has not presented any evidence to support their allegations against me.
Why is NZSIS accusing me on such a high matter without providing evidence?
I am currently still on the suspension from work. I am suffering from health issues due to this matter and have been in counselling therapy on a weekly basis.
I am very grateful for the support of my family, friends, and people I didn't know.
15 March 2023 articles:
English version:
Chinese version:
www.chineseherald.co.nz/news/education/cn-spy/
www.chineseherald.co.nz/news/new-zealand/government-staffer/
I have lived and worked in Wellington since 2000, and have never moved to another NZ city to study, work and live. NZSIS could find another time and a place to interview me. Why did NZSIS take the action to my whole family at the airport on 20 Oct 2022 following the return from a family holiday in Australia?
Note: On 20 October, we got up around 5am at hotel for catching our morning flight from Sydney to Wellington at 9:25am Australian time. Our flight was NZ246. My family members were so tired and hungry after the plane landed in Wellington Airport. We were ultimately not allowed to return home until 5:30pm NZST due to we were detained by NZSIS.
NZSIS told me at the airport on 20 Oct 2022 they don't have power to arrest me, but another authority will do the job.
I have waited for near five months, no one from NZ govt came to my house.
However, two police officers visited my parents' place to check whether they were ok. Because NZSIS seized my phone, my parents missed critical medical appointment so their nurse couldn't reach me then they alerted to Police.
Because of this incident, I called NZSIS twice and begged them for getting my phone back, NZSIS totally ignored my request.
Note: My mom had kidney cancer so had one kidney removed a few months ago on 20 Oct 2022, while dad has limited mobility and has a disability medical certificate.
After NZSIS finished the interview and let me out, my 8 years daughter saw me and said 'Daddy, we're so worried about you, we're so scared ...'
I have four questions for the Prime Minister:
1. NZSIS took action against me, why were my wife and three kids implicated? One is that of an innocent man and his family.
2. In today's world, why was this happening to a New Zealand family on New Zealand soil?
3. On 20 October 2022, at Wellington Airport NZSIS adopted 'totalitarian measures' in my family with five New Zealand citizens, including three kids. Why?
4. Was this because we were Chinese New Zealanders?
I came to NZ in 2000 to seek a freedom life and human rights.
However, NZSIS has taken away our human rights and freedoms at the airport.
Why did NZSIS choose to intimidate me in front of my wife and three children?
My wife and three children were also terrified to see their husband and father taken away for several hours.
One NZSIS officer questioned my 13 years old son twice about why he did not have a password on his phone. What's like to be a boy who's been interrogated by a secret agent twice?
NZSIS took action against me, why were my wife and three kids implicated?
In feudal times, when a man was accused, the whole family would be implicated. In today's world, why was this happening to a New Zealand family on New Zealand soil? Because were we Chinese New Zealanders?
Someone must account for the NZSIS‘s action.
More detailed stories of what happened to my family at Wellington Airport will be written.
This is just a start to fight for justice. Thank you for your support.
Newshub article: www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/03/government-staffer-denies-passing-sensitive-information-to-chinese-government-calls-treatment-racist.html
