Statement of Intent 1 July 2009 - 30 June 2012
Strategic direction: High level and intermediate outcomes
This section of the SOI applies the requirements of section 40 (b) of the Public Finance Act 1989, which requires discussion of ‘the specific impacts, outcomes or objectives that the department seeks to achieve or contribute to through its operations’.
The Ministry of Defence works towards two high level outcomes. The first outcome relates to our immediate security concerns.
Outcome One: New Zealand is secure
A range of partner agencies contributes to the security of New Zealand and upholding her sovereignty. The Ministry’s emphasis is in maintaining New Zealand’s security from military or terrorist attacks, our freedom from external coercion, and control of our maritime environment (through surveillance and presence). To meet this outcome is to provide the most basic and essential form of security and to preserve New Zealand’s sovereignty.
Measuring success in achieving a secure New Zealand is shared among a number of agencies. The Ministry of Defence’s contribution to measuring performance is through periodic defence reviews and through effective policy advice mechanisms.
The second outcome relates to our interest in a peaceful international environment, both in support of our security, and as an expression of our national values.
Outcome Two: The security of other nations is enhanced by New Zealand’s efforts
The security of the surrounding region – encompassing Australia, the Pacific island states, and Antarctica – is of immediate importance to us. Australia is our principal defence partner, while New Zealand has a key stake in the security and development of the island states to our north. Our goal is to assist them to develop their national capacity to function as sovereign entities. More broadly, New Zealand’s economic livelihood is grounded in a peaceful international order that enables the free flow of commerce between nations. Our interest is particularly centred on the Asia Pacific and the Middle East, as centres of global commerce, and international tension.
New Zealand’s active support for the security of other nations also reflects our national values. New Zealand is a strong supporter of international peace, human rights, international law, and the United Nations.
We draw on international reporting, dialogue through our defence relationships, and our partner agencies’ perspectives to determine progress in achieving this outcome.
We work towards these outcomes with a range of partner agencies, principally the New Zealand Defence Force, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The New Zealand Defence Force manages military capability, and undertakes military operations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade manages New Zealand’s foreign policy. Over time we will continue to develop joined-up approaches, including in the articulation and measurement of performance.
Figure 1 illustrates the linkages within our outcomes framework.
Figure 1: Ministry of Defence Outcome Framework
View text equivalent of above image.
The Ministry of Defence’s contribution to the high level outcomes is captured by the following four intermediate outcomes.
Intermediate outcome one: New Zealand’s military capabilities are aligned with our requirements
Our capacity to achieve our high level outcomes – in close cooperation with our partner agencies – derives from maintaining military capabilities that are matched to New Zealand’s requirements. This impact relates to the entire cycle of capability development, from setting policy objectives, to developing capability proposals, to procuring equipment, and introducing capability to service. The Ministry is mainly involved in setting policy objectives, ensuring capability proposals are consistent with policy objectives, and procuring equipment with a value of $7 million or more. Our audit and assessment function considers the effectiveness of the NZDF's management of its military capabilities, and of the Ministry's procurement of major military equipment.
The maintenance of current military capabilities largely sits with the New Zealand Defence Force and reporting is found within their accountability documents. The Ministry’s performance in this area can be assessed through our output measures, which provide an assessment of the quality of our processes.
Intermediate outcome two: New Zealand’s military deployments support our regional and wider international objectives
To get the best value from its investment in defence capabilities, the Government requires advice on its options for deploying the New Zealand Defence Force. The Government faces demands for military commitments at the local, regional, and global level. The Ministry plays a key role in advising the Government of the benefits and the costs of deployments.
A set of objectives is agreed for each deployment. We report progress against these objectives regularly, including when reviewing deployment mandates.
Intermediate outcome three: New Zealand’s defence relationships are aligned with our security interests and foreign policy goals
Defence relationships support our security interests, and our wider foreign policy goals. Defence relationships may comprise a range of components, including security dialogues, military exercises, and training exchanges. The Ministry plays a leading role in managing New Zealand’s international defence relations at a policy level, including supporting ministerial engagement on defence and security issues.
Our relationship with Australia is managed within a comprehensive framework which provides agreed specific performance objectives. In other relationships we are preparing relationship development plans to support our security interests.
Intermediate outcome four: New Zealand identifies all credible military threats to its security environment
While a military threat to New Zealand is not in prospect, this may not always be the case. One of the Ministry’s responsibilities is to monitor the external security environment to detect potential emerging threats to New Zealand’s interests, and factor any threats into the capability development cycle.
Our performance in achieving this can be measured through our participation in a wide range of activities within the security sector. These activities provide an evidential basis that is drawn upon in advising the Minister and other selected stakeholders.
