Draft:Sam Brittenden
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Comment: In preparing this draft, I disclose that AI assistance was used as follows: I rewrote the article myself, but I also used ChatGPT to get feedback on the draft and help with references. I used some of its suggestions in the headings and the Action Zealandia section. ~2026-50511-81 (talk) 07:10, 5 October 2026 (UTC)- Comment Sources I think give the best 3 coverage under WP:42:
- The young men behind NZ’s new far-right movement: feature on remigration new zealand. Covers his political activity and views, identifies him as running an anonymous X account.
- Law student who made anti-Muslim slurs says he's not racist: His sentencing for disorderly behaviour after slurs in Dunedin, his response and the name suppression ruling.
- Christchurch mosque threat: Action Zealandia member Sam Brittenden refused to hand over phone code: his guilty plea for failing to assist a police search. Background on the 2019 case. Reports he was never charged over the mosque threat.
- Two of these are court reports. I'm including them to show national coverage of separate events in 2019 and 2020, with the 2026 feature as the main source on his political activity. ~2026-50511-81 (talk) 11:17, 5 October 2026 (UTC)
Submission declined on 27 September 2026 by Helpful Raccoon (talk).
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This draft has been resubmitted and is currently awaiting re-review. |  |
Submission declined on 25 September 2026 by PARAKANYAA (talk). This draft appears to contain text generated by a large language model (such as ChatGPT). You cannot use LLMs to generate, draft, or rewrite article content.
Declined by PARAKANYAA 11 days ago.Please delete the portions which were LLM-generated, and summarize in your own words a range of independent, reliable, published sources that discuss the subject. If you have used an LLM but you believe that your use is covered by one of the two exceptions (basic copyediting and translation between two languages in which you are fully fluent), please provide a transcript of the prompt(s) you used while writing your draft (see the how-to guide). Reviewers can make mistakes. If you have not received any LLM assistance, you may seek a second opinion at the AfC Help Desk. See the advice page on large language models for more information. | |
- Comment Spoke to User:Helpful Raccoon before resubmitting. They suggested resubmitting for a notability review (discussion). ~2026-50511-81 (talk) 10:57, 5 October 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: This is a lightly reworded version of the original LLM-generated text. Merely rewording the existing LLM-generated text usually does not resolve the problem of LLM usage; please start over by removing all text from the draft (without removing any review templates). If you need general advice or formatting help, see Help:Your first article and Help:Referencing for beginners. It is typically easiest to write a short draft that summarizes the three best sources with critical analysis of the subject that meet all the criteria in WP:42. Helpful Raccoon (talk) 00:52, 27 September 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: Previous draftification reason, AI use, is not resolved; several WP:AISIGNS. Also, the vast majority of this article is minor criminal convictions reported in local newspaper outlets; does not pass WP:NCRIMINAL and the sourcing is WP:ROUTINE of the nature "local man commits crime", what isn't local is passing mentions PARAKANYAA (talk) 11:31, 25 September 2026 (UTC)
 | This is a draft article. It is a work in progress open to editing by anyone. Please ensure core content policies are met before publishing it as a live Wikipedia article. Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL Last edited by ~2026-50511-81 (talk | contribs) 26 hours ago. (Update)
This draft has been submitted and is currently awaiting review. |
Sam Brittenden |
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Sam Richard Scott Brittenden is a New Zealander associated with far-right groups Action Zealandia[1] and Remigration New Zealand.[2]
Political activity and views
[edit]Action Zealandia
[edit]Brittenden was reportedly a member of Action Zealandia in 2020.[3] He reportedly described Action Zealandia as growing and suggested that its antisemitic provocations would help publicise it.[4] Following his arrest in March 2020, Action Zealandia stated they do not endorse his actions, calling them "immature and unproductive".[5][6]
Activities in 2022–2023
[edit]In 2022, the Southern Star in Ireland reported that Brittenden was believed to be in the process of moving to West Cork to join the SSPX Resistance.[7][8]
In 2023, he was identified as one of the far-right individuals at Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull's 2023 Auckland Let Women Speak protest.[9] Brittenden was also identified as having attended a Christchurch Library Drag Story Time counter-protest carrying a banner.[8][10]
Remigration New Zealand
[edit]Remigration New Zealand is a white nationalist organisation in New Zealand, similar to Action Zealandia. In 2026, The Press identified Brittenden as running an anonymous X account called Antipodean Man, which praised Adolf Hitler, promoted Holocaust denial, and advocated for "deporting the Asiatic hordes who have invaded this land". He was identified as an active member of Remigration New Zealand.[2]
In 2025, before New Zealand First leader Winston Peters spoke in Christchurch, the account posted a photo of the venue with the caption "Heil Zealandia."[2] Brittenden said in a voice chat, "Right now, we don't have a single voice in government. New Zealand First do not represent us. They’re not ethnic nationalists, they're civic nationalists. We need MPs."[2]
Criminal proceedings
[edit]2019 disorderly behaviour conviction
[edit]In March 2019, University of Otago law student Sam Brittenden[11] approached the police when the police were clearing Castle Street, making anti-Muslim slurs.[12] He was arrested.[11][13]
Brittenden pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour. His lawyer applied for name suppression but it was declined.[11] He was sentenced to 125 hours' community work and six months' supervision. He told reporters afterwards that he was not racist.[11]
2020 search warrant conviction
[edit]A threat to the Al Noor Mosque was reportedly sent to thousands of people through a far-right Telegram channel that glorifies Brenton Tarrant.[14][15][5][6][16] Police searched his property[17][18][19] and charged him with failing to assist with a police search warrant.[20][21][22][23][3][24][25] He was not charged over the mosque threat, but was convicted of failing to assist with a search warrant after repeatedly providing an incorrect passcode for his phone.[14]
Brittenden lost a request for name suppression.[6][16] He pleaded guilty to one charge of failing without reasonable excuse to assist police exercising a search under the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 Section 178.[26] He was fined $500[27] and ordered to pay an additional $130 in court costs.[28]
Brittenden's father, Scott Brittenden, expressed shame at his son's actions.[29] Scott said he did not bring his son up to have racist views.[4][30][6]
Driving and assault proceedings
[edit]In 2023, Brittenden was in court for driving with a breath alcohol level of more than 800 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.[31]
In December 2025, Brittenden admitted to assaulting two people with his car while driving under the influence.[32] He pleaded guilty to five related charges of reckless driving, breaching his zero alcohol licence, refusing to undergo an impairment test, and twice assaulting a person with his car.[32]
In July 2025, Brittenden argued with a teenage woman at a bar, outside her home, then outside his own home. Brittenden pursued the woman and the man accompanying her, driving his car from Christchurch to Rolleston. Brittenden "used his car to ram the victims off the road, forcing them to crash into a low concrete block wall" at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Rolleston Drive, the summary said.[32] He repeatedly hit the driver's-side window of the victims’ car until it shattered.[31]
In a court hearing, her father read her statement, which said the incident psychologically traumatised her and she took 9 months to find stability. The man told The Press he had flashbacks and anxiety about driving afterwards.[31] Defence lawyer Richard McGuire said his client wished to apologise to them, he never intended to hurt them, and they had nothing to fear from him. He offered to undertake restorative justice, according to McGuire. Judge Gerard Lynch said his explanation was an "implausible explanation" and said he showed "little remorse" for serious offending.[31]
Brittenden was sentenced in April 2026 to six months' community detention with a nightly curfew, 100 hours of community work and disqualified from driving by the Christchurch District Court.[31]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Manch, Thomas (13 October 2021). "New Zealand white supremacist group on Facebook's 'dangerous organisations' list". Stuff. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Mitchell, Charlie (1 August 2026). "The young men behind NZ's new far-right movement". The Press. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 Bayer, Kurt (7 July 2020). "Christchurch mosque threat: Action Zealandia member Sam Brittenden refused to hand over phone code". NZ Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 Sherwood, Sam (5 March 2020). "Father of teen arrested in raid after Al Noor mosque threat 'extremely disappointed'". Stuff. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 "Extremist Content Online: White Supremacist Arrested For Threatening Al Noor Mosque In Christchurch". Counter Extremism Project. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 McKay, Ben (5 March 2020). "Christchurch teen charged after mosque photo". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ "'White supremacist' joining Reenascreena sect". The Southern Star. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 Taonui, Rawiri. "Marama Davidson – No Apology Necessary". Waatea Digital. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ "Posie Parker: Anti-trans rally attracted a range of far-right groups, researchers say". NZ Herald. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ Roberts, Nadine (22 March 2023). "Secretive underground group behind campaign to stop Pride Week event". Stuff. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Law student who made anti-Muslim slurs says he's not racist". The New Zealand Herald. 2019.
- ↑ Daalder, Marc (25 June 2020). "Army reservist linked to New Zealand far-right group". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ Weir, Elliot (10 August 2021). "Fascism 2.0: Lessons from six months in New Zealand's largest white supremacist group". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 "In the Shadow of Christchurch: International Lessons from New Zealand's Extreme Far-Right". CTC Sentinel. August 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ Daalder, Marc (4 March 2020). "Action Zealandia member arrested for threat". Newsroom. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 "Al Noor mosque threat: Teen in court after police raid". Otago Daily Times. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ Bayer, Kurt (5 March 2020). "Al Noor mosque threat: Teen appears in Christchurch court after police raid house". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ Foon, Eleisha (5 March 2020). "Man in court after police search following Al Noor mosque threat". RNZ. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ "Teenager appears in court over threat made against worshippers at Christchurch's Al Noor mosque". 1 News. 5 March 2020.
- ↑ "Sam Brittenden leaves Christchurch District Court". New Zealand Herald. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ McKay, Ben (5 March 2020). "Christchurch teen charged after mosque photo". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ "Terror cells planning by Kiwi group". The Press. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ Bureau, Iwk (6 March 2020). "Al Noor Mosque Threat: Police arrest 19-year-old white nationalist group member". The Indian Weekender. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
{{cite news}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ↑ "Online hate causes real world pain". The Press. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ Comerford, Milo (August 2021). "In the Shadow of Christchurch: International Lessons from New Zealand's Extreme Far-Right" (PDF). CTC Sentinel. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ Sherwood, Sam (7 July 2020). "White nationalist group member pleads guilty to failing to assist with search warrant". Stuff. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ "Far-Right teen fined $500". The Press. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ Reid, Joy (7 July 2020). "Far right teen pleads guilty, fined for failing to assist police investigating Christchurch mosque threat". 1 News. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ "Father's shame at son's racist links". The Press. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- ↑ "Teen's father : 'I haven't brought up my son to be like this'". The Press. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Kerr-Laurie, Brett (13 April 2026). "Christchurch teen 'traumatised' by man linked to far right group who assaulted her with car". The Press. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Man linked to white nationalist group rams car off road in high speed chase". The Press. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Please delete the portions which were LLM-generated, and summarize in your own words a range of independent, reliable, published sources that discuss the subject. If you have used an LLM but you believe that your use is covered by one of the two exceptions (basic copyediting and translation between two languages in which you are fully fluent), please provide a transcript of the prompt(s) you used while writing your draft (see the how-to guide). Reviewers can make mistakes. If you have not received any LLM assistance, you may seek a second opinion at the AfC Help Desk.
See the advice page on large language models for more information.