Russia’s foreign ministry has banned 32 New Zealanders from entry.
The ban has been given to journalists and officials who have recently shown support for Ukraine.
The list includes New Zealand’s Military Secretary to the Minister of Defence, Shane Arndell, and other leading figures in the country’s defence force as well as the mayors of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Nelson.
Journalists named include Whena Owen, Matthew Hooton, and James Hollings.
The sole academic was Stephen Hoadley, an associate professor in the faculty of politics and international relations at the University of Auckland.
The sanctions bar the named individuals from entering Russia.
In April, Russia announced an earlier blacklist of politicians from New Zealand, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
