VoterTorque Political Podcast Election 2023 S2E7 - National Security Government Announcements

VoterTorque - New Zealand Politics in Plain English

In the last week, the New Zealand government has released three documents relating to national security: Aotearoa’s National Security Strategy: Secure Together Tō Tātou Korowai Manaaki Defence Policy and Strategy Statement Future Force Design Principles These were preceded by a public consultation exercise, a long-term insights briefing and a foreign policy assessment.
In the coming week, we expect the release of an updated threat assessment. Since Defence Minister Andrew Little’s announcements last week, there has been at least a dozen stories a day ranging from the importance of New Zealand’s ‘first ever’ national security strategy, to an upcoming major cash injection into defence and a complete sell-out to foreign interests – notably those of the USA. A strategy it is not. It is what academics would call a ‘meta-policy.’ By its own admission it sits over the country’s:

• Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism Strategy
• Cyber Security Strategy
• Maritime Security Strategy
• Transnational Organised Crime Strategy
• Pacific Resilience Strategy
• Mass Arrivals Prevention Strategy
• Defence Policy Statements and White Papers
• National Space Policy
• Border Security Strategy

A strategy is contested. Its success can be measured. This is a policy dressed in strategy clothes. The best thing to potentially come out of this process is the creation of a National Intelligence and Security Agency. But that is not explicitly written only talked about.
Heather and Simon discuss these documents.