It comes as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is in Fiji for some relationship building - part of New Zealand's Pacific reset policy - before she heads to Sydney to meet with her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison.

China is a big player in Fiji. The superpower is behind infrastructure like new bridges, emergency vehicles, schools and buildings.

One local Newshub spoke to in Fiji's capital Suva said the government in Fiji invited the Chinese to "come and help us", but he said it's "not good".

The entire Pacific is grappling with increased interests from China.

Australia's chief spy Burgess is warning of "unprecedented" espionage. Speaking at ASIO headquarters in Canberra on Monday evening, he did not name names, but analysts are pointing to China.

"There are more foreign intelligence officers and their proxies working in Australia now than at the height of the cold war," Burgess said, as he unveiled an annual threat assessment.

But it's not just spies hiding in Australia - it is secretive white supremacists, too. Australia is grappling with a doubling in terrorism investigations since the Christchurch attacks.

"The right-wing extremist threat is real and it is growing," Burgess said.

Nearly a year after the Christchurch terror attacks, New Zealand's terror threat level is medium, meaning "a terrorist attack is feasible and could well occur".

"We have to make sure that we are prepared for that kind of ideology," Ardern said in Fiji on Wednesday. "We have seen changes in New Zealand - of course we have."

The effect of the Christchurch attack was felt acutely in Fiji, too. Three Fijians were killed.

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama paid tribute to Ardern in a speech on Wednesday, praising her words after attacks that were recognised as New Zealand's Quote of the Year: "They are us."

Bainimarama said, "Those few words helped unite a nation and inspire the world."

On Thursday, Ardern will visit a mosque and mark Fiji's loss following last year's attacks

With the anniversary of the attacks coming up in three weeks, the shared tragedy is a reminder of just how linked Pacific nations are.