Expelling Russian spies and diplomats is the hot new trend for spring, and New Zealand would like to participate. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) for the Kiwis, they have no Russian spies to expel.
"We have done a check in New Zealand," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in an interview Tuesday. "We don't have Russian undeclared intelligence officers here. If we did, we would expel them." Ardern added she is unsurprised by this lack, as New Zealand does not figure significantly in Russia's foreign affairs.
The U.S., Australia, Britain, and nearly a dozen other European countries have collectively kicked out dozens of Moscow's envoys. They acted in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter who were living in Britain, a crime of which Russia is accused.