This post has been edited to reflect that I have now read the documents.
The NZ 2018
Strategic Defence Policy Statement is out.
This document goes further than the previous DWPs have and it names countries; China and Russia. Beijing will probably spit the dummy over this and retaliate, similar to what they have recently done to Australia. Beijing has a thinner skin than the current POTUS. It clearly states what the current govt see as threats to NZ's security and well being. I think that the current govt are moving away from the fixation of trade at all costs. It remains to be seen whether or not they understand that defence and trade are closely interlinked.
The document clearly states that the strategic situation has deteriorated markedly in recent years and that the future will not be smooth sailing. It discusses the Pacific reset and has raised the defence priority for Defence's ability to operate in the South Pacific, Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. This level of priority is to be the same as Defence's ability to operate domestically. It also discusses climate change, the impacts that this will have and Defence's response to it. It notes the US inward focus, it's withdrawal from both the TTP and the Paris Climate Change Accord, and the uncertainty that now surrounds US policy. It also clearly states that the Asia Pacific area and South East Asia are highly important to NZ.
To me the proof of the pudding will be if the MOD / NZDF budgets are significantly increased both for CAPEX and OPEX. Personally I would like to see the the Defence Funding Vote back to 2% GDP and the secret squirrel budgets removed from the umbrella of defence.
The
Review of Defence Procurement Policies and Practices for Major Capability Projects has been released. Overall it gives a good report of the procurement system and states that the Defence procurement system is now an exemplar for the rest of the public service. It explains what the changes have been, doesn't find anything that is poor practice and offers suggestions on how the system can be improved. This is really good because Treasury are the ones who said that the Defence procurement system is an exemplar for the rest of the public service. There is close liaison between Defence and Treasury.
