Police are searching hospitals and schools across the country after threats were made against a number of organisations in New Zealand.
They are searching Wellington and Bowen Hospital in the Capital and Burwood Hospital in Christchurch.
RNZ understands police have also been at Auckland City Hospital and Saint Kentigern College says on its website that it was evacuating.
High school students are currently undertaking NCEA exams.
NZQA deputy chief executive of assessment Jann Marshall says the safety of students and staff is a top priority.
"Each school has its own processes for handling a security lockdown, and these apply during the exam period.
"Students who are unable to sit an exam, or whose performance is impaired because of a security incident, can apply for a derived grade, or their school may apply for derived grades at scale to apply."
PPTA acting president Chris Abercrombie says the primary concern of schools will be ensuring the safety of staff and students.
Police say staff are working with those impacted and will respond based on individual circumstances.
"Police acknowledge how unsettling these emails are for all concerned. We'd like to thank all involved for their cooperation as we investigate these emails."
Te Whatu Ora's national director for hospital and specialist services Fionnagh Dougan confirms some hospitals received an "email of concern" earlier today.
"[It] was immediately referred to police for further investigation," she says.
"Staff have followed police advice and we are remaining vigilant. Our hospital sites have remained open and all services are continuing.
"Members of the public with appointments at our hospitals or needing emergency treatment should be assured it is safe to attend their local hospital as usual."
On July 26, 2022, some North Island schools went into lockdown and moved students off site after receiving phone threats.
Threats were made to five schools in Waikato, Thames Coromandel and Gisborne districts, police say.
No specific risk was ever found.
The next day, bomb threats were made to four schools and at least a dozen the next, causing widespread disruption with many of the schools having to evacuate.
The Principals' Federation says those threats originated from an overseas cyberbot.
More to come...
1 comment
And who are the world leaders in cyberbot use?
Posted on 23-11-2023 15:54 | By morepork
Putin's Russia. You might struggle to see why they would be interested in action designed to cause alarm and anxiety and disrupt a normally placid way of life. But, we are considered part of the evil West, and we are on record as supporting Ukraine. Russia was one of the first states to use State-operated "armies" of cyberbots, primarily to launch distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks against Western corporations, but later into much more dangerous and clandestine penetration of government and military installations. Their attacks against the U.S.A and U.K. are a matter of record. Hospitals and health facilities are prime (and soft) targets. The object is to sow panic and disorder and to remind people that they are not out of reach. I'm sure our SIS will be talking to the US about electronic counter-measures, but such attacks are very difficult to prevent or deal with.
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