New Zealand Defence Policy
The National Party announced before the 2008 election that it would be undertaking a defence review if it was elected as the Government.
The new National led Government can be expected to give guidance on this review in the near future.
In the meantime, New Zealand's approach on defence issues is based on the fundamentals of protecting New Zealand and its people and being a good international partner and citizen.
Key elements of New Zealand's approach to Defence issues
- New Zealand's defence and security policies are based on its own assessment of the security environment and the actions it considers to be in New Zealand's best interests.
- Defence is one aspect of New Zealand's foreign and security policy. A comprehensive approach is taken to security to protect New Zealand's interests and to promote regional stability and global peace.
- The primary reason for maintaining a defence force is to secure New Zealand against external threats, to protect our sovereign interests, and to be able to take action to meet likely contingencies in our strategic area of interest.
- New Zealand works collaboratively with like-minded partners. In this context, there is no strategic partnership closer than that with Australia. New Zealand continues to meet its obligations as a member of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).
- New Zealand has special obligations to Pacific neighbours to assist in maintaining peace, preserving the environment, promoting good governance and helping achieve economic well being. New Zealand wants a secure neighbourhood and must work towards that.
- Peace support operations are important for maintaining security and stability. New Zealand makes as full a contribution to such actions as is reasonably possible. New Zealand's global engagement is based on active support for, and participation in, UN and appropriate multinational peace support operations.
- A nuclear free New Zealand exists and the integrity of this nuclear free policy is protected. A nuclear free South Pacific is also promoted.
- Except as part of peace support operations, New Zealand does not engage in military cooperation or exercises with the armed forces of states which sanction the use of their armed forces to suppress human rights.
- Effective contributions are made by the New Zealand Defence Force through the three single services working together (jointness).
- Defence funding is carefully targeted according to clear priorities.
Key defence objectives
The following five objectives are the basis for the roles and tasks of the New Zealand Defence Force.
- To defend New Zealand and to protect its people, land, territorial waters, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), natural resources and critical infrastructure.
- To meet New Zealand's alliance commitments to Australia by maintaining a close defence partnership in pursuit of common security interests.
- To assist in the maintenance of security in the South Pacific and to provide assistance to New Zealand's Pacific neighbours.
- To play an appropriate role in the maintenance of security in the Asia-Pacific region, including meeting New Zealand's obligations as a member of the FPDA.
- To contribute to global security and peacekeeping through participation in the full range of UN and other appropriate multilateral peace support and humanitarian relief options.
Renewing New Zealand's Defence Force
The shaping and renewing of the capability of the Defence Force are being guided by seven principles. They are that the Defence Force will be:
- Equipped and trained for combat and peacekeeping
In order to fulfil the key tasks the Government envisages for the New Zealand Defence Force, it must be appropriately equipped and trained for both combat and peacekeeping. - Deployable
Being able to bring forces to bear when they are most needed is dependent on deployability. This is of particular concern to New Zealand. To be able to deploy and sustain our forces, particularly over large distances, requires a flexible and adaptable mix of air and sea transport. - Able to operate alongside other forces
Exercising bilaterally with Australia and multilaterally through the FPDA builds up the New Zealand Defence Force's ability to operate with other forces. - Held at appropriate levels of readiness
The New Zealand Defence Force will be equipped and trained at appropriate levels of readiness. - Sustainable
Deployments may be for long periods and involve rotation of personnel and equipment. New Zealand Defence Force resources will be managed to ensure that commitments can be sustained. - Up to date in technology and doctrine
It is essential that the New Zealand Defence Force keep abreast of technological and other changes in military operations - to retain operational effectiveness. The costs these developments pose are a considerable challenge for small countries like New Zealand. The Government believes that a programme of progressively introducing new technology can help meet this challenge, but consideration will also need to be given to retaining a lesser range of capabilities. - Fiscally sustainable
The Government wants to ensure that our defence dollars are spent wisely. We will focus our rebuilding efforts in areas of most urgent need.
This has seen the focus of the New Zealand Defence Force renewal being on:
- A joint approach to the structure and operational orientation of the New Zealand Defence Force.
- The modernisation of the Army.
- Providing for a practical Navy that is better matched to New Zealand's wider security needs.
- The refocusing and updating of the Air Force.
- Providing a funding commitment so that the New Zealand Defence Force has funding certainty.
Additional funding for the operations of the New Zealand Defence Force has been targeted at:
- growing personnel numbers
- investment in infrastructure at camps and bases
- increasing reserve stocks of necessary equipment and spares
- enhanced administration and management arrangements.
