Statement of Intent 1 July 2004 - 30 June 2005
Part 1: Strategic framework (continued)
The Defence Long-term Development Plan
A strong focus of our work over the next three to five years will be implementing the Long-term Development Plan with the New Zealand Defence Force. Issued in June 2002, and updated in June 2003, the Long-term Development Plan sets out the capability projects required to modernise and improve the New Zealand Defence Force.
The capability projects in the Long-term Development Plan fall into five categories: projects approved in principle by the Government; projects necessary to avoid failure to achieve policy objectives; projects necessary to provide a well equipped land force; projects necessary to avoid significant risks to policy; and projects judged as having benefit but which are less critical to achieving policy objectives.
Many of the capability projects in the Long-term Development Plan are now underway, following decisions made by the Government. They will have a significant impact on the ability of the New Zealand Defence Force to meet the roles and tasks prescribed by the Government.
The Long-term Development Plan is also a planning document that will assist the Government to make decisions about defence capability over a ten year period. We will regularly review the Long-term Development Plan in association with the New Zealand Defence Force, to ensure it is achieving its purpose.
The Long-term Development Plan deals with capability in the form of equipment.
We are also undertaking a review of defence capability in the form of other types of resources. This is discussed further under Next steps.
Improving our protection of New Zealand's exclusive economic zone
The rugged northwest coast of New Zealand seldom sees fishery officers patrolling its waters. That situation will change, however, when the Ministry of Defence obtains, on behalf of the Royal New Zealand Navy, a multi role vessel and a fleet of inshore and offshore patrol vessels.
The vessels will be operated to support the Ministry of Fisheries, as well as other Government agencies, and will mean a significant increase in the policing and protection of New Zealand's exclusive economic zone.
The Navy has always had a role in protecting New Zealand's maritime interests, and the new vessels will augment that role, with an increased emphasis on working with other government agencies.
The Ministry has been working with Customs, the Department of Conservation, the Police, the Maritime Safety Authority, the Maritime Coordination Centre, and the Ministry of Fisheries, among others, to ensure the vessels are suitable to meet a wide range of tasking.
As well as fishery patrols to ensure New Zealand valuable fish stocks are protected and maintained, such tasking could involve assisting the agencies in the detection of illegal importations or activities, native flora and fauna conservation, and maritime safety.
There are few patrol vessels in New Zealand suitable for policing the long exposed stretch of coastline between Kawhia and the tip of the North Island. The area has snapper, tarakihi and gurnard breeding grounds, and is also fished by commercial vessels involved in tuna long lining, tuna trolling and demersal long lining for species such as hapuku and blue nose.
The Navy is also closely involved in assisting the Ministry with advice on the procurement of the new fleet.
The Ministry's international role
New Zealand is strongly committed to playing a meaningful role in maintaining regional peace and security. Defence and foreign policy work in partnership to secure territorial, economic and social interests, and to meet collective and global responsibilities.
Australia is New Zealand's most important and valued defence partner. Maintaining a strong strategic relationship with Australia is a key goal for the Ministry and for the New Zealand Defence Force.
The Pacific presents security challenges in New Zealand's immediate neighbourhood. New Zealand shares security concerns with many Pacific nations, having complementary objectives, shared responsibilities, and similar security challenges. Developments there have the potential to impact significantly on our interests. The closeness of the Pacific will require New Zealand to become more focused and active in the region.
Security in the Asia-Pacific region is of key importance to New Zealand.
Strategic realities have led New Zealand to expand its engagement on defence and security matters with countries in Northeast Asia.
A security community is developing among Southeast Asian countries, despite differences in approaches to security issues such as terrorism. New Zealand is part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum process, and has important defence and security relationships such as the Five Power Defence Arrangements between: New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.
The relationship between the United States, China, and Japan is one of the principal determinants of the political, economic and strategic landscape in the Asia-Pacific region. In the wake of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 the United States is now viewing international security through an anti-terrorism prism that has resulted in increased levels of dialogue and cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.
We will examine ways of determining how effective we are at our international role.
Addressing mutual goals, concerns, and interests in the region
The International Defence Relations Branch provides policy advice to the Minister of Defence through the Secretary of Defence and the Chief of the Defence Force. It oversees the day-to-day management of New Zealand's defence relations with its regional neighbours and through various other organisations. The ASEAN Regional Forum is one such forum, and an important security component in the region.
The ASEAN Regional Forum has fostered valuable links within the region and enables regional security issues to be discussed constructively. It has encouraged wide-ranging discussions on security, and has established a network of regional confidence building measures. Defence officials are extensively involved in the forum, and the Ministry of Defence encourages this, as one of the underlying forum objectives is to promote greater interaction between regional military establishments.
The International Defence Relations Branch organised and managed a formal ASEAN Regional Forum Defence officials' meeting in 2002. From that meeting, Singapore and New Zealand began discussing ways of further developing their regional relationship, including a long-term framework for cooperation and sharing of best practices in, for example, security, peacekeeping operations, and maritime activities.
China supported the framework, and at the ASEAN Regional Forum Senior Officials' Meeting in May 2003 proposed a new ASEAN Regional Forum track - an additional annual meeting involving senior defence officials. New Zealand and Singapore supported this proposal as complementary to their own work. China distributed a concept paper, titled 'ASEAN Regional Forum Security Policy Conference' for discussion at the Beijing Intersessional Support Group meeting in November 2003, and asked New Zealand to be a co-sponsor. We agreed and provided comment on the first draft of the paper. The concept paper is to be finalised in time to seek endorsement by senior ASEAN Regional Forum officials and, ultimately, Ministers at their meetings in mid 2004. This will be a milestone event in promoting defence interaction, understanding and confidence within the region.
