Hilary Clinton warns about the growing influence of China  

Hilary Clinton has warned about the growing influence of China during a New Zealand speech. 

The former US Secretary of State warned Australia needed to take the country’s influence ‘seriously’.  

‘China’s attempts to influence national affairs in Australia and New Zealand have to be taken seriously,’ she said.

Clinton also hailed the work of academic Anne-Marie Brady, who is concerned countries including New Zealand are ‘being targeted by a interference campaign led by the People’s Republic of China’.

‘Anne-Marie Brady of the University of Canterbury has rightly called this a new global battle, and it’s just getting started,’ said Clinton.

‘We need to take it seriously.’ 

The former US Secretary of State (pictured) warned Australia needed to take the country’s influence ‘seriously’.

Clinton also hailed the work of academic Anne-Marie Brady, who is concerned about the influence of China 

Clinton was in New Zealand on a speaking tour as part of a series called ‘Women World Changers’. 

Earlier this week she met with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden over breakfast in an event closed to the media. 

She is due to arrive in Australia for paid speaking events in Melbourne and Australia on Thursday and Friday.

Earlier this week she met with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden (pictured left) over breakfast in an event closed to the media.

Tickets for the event start at $127 for the event at the Sydney International Convention event ‘An evening with Hilary Rodham Clinton event on Friday. 

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull admitted in April there was some tension in  Australia’s relationship with China over foreign interference laws. 

‘There is certainly some tension that has risen in China about our foreign interference laws but it is very important that the Australian government assures only Australians are influencing our political processes,’ he told  3AW radio.