The Wireless

Govt watchlist number grows

08:45 am on 2 March 2015

The number of people on a Government watchlist has increased, Prime Minister John Key says.

In November Mr Key revealed 30-40 people were on a watchlist because of their involvement with or support for Islamic State and a further 30-40 required further investigation.

Key told Radio New Zealand the group of people who were on the unsure watchlist had increased to 60-70.

He said the increased number would be a more significant factor for officials deciding the terrorist threat level than the deployment of soldiers to Iraq.

The level of security at Parliament had also changed since a threat on the life of an Australian senator and a terrorist attack on the Canadian parliament last year.

Last week, Key announced 143 troops will be sent to Iraq to train local security forces.