Kia ora and welcome to the Autumn 2024 edition – and 31st issue – of Line of Defence Magazine!
In this post-ANZMIN 2+2 and pre-Budget issue, we’re privileged to again be joined by Defence Minister Judith Collins and Opposition Spokesperson for Defence Peeni Henare.
Minister Collins highlights the importance of our being a credible partner to Australia through integration, interoperability, and our emerging space capabilities. Former minister Henare focuses on the criticality of investment in the Defence Estate and remuneration.
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Senior contributor Dr Wayne Mapp explores the investment decisions that will need to be made in Defence during the term of the current parliament, suggesting that while we’re not spending enough the NATO benchmark of 2% of GDP may be too much. Meanwhile, with Andrew Bridgman’s time as SECDEF draws to a close, the top civilian job is becoming vacant. Interested? Details inside!
We’re excited to welcome Ben Morgan back for his second Line of Defence piece, this time exploring what the recent emergence of high-tech, low-cost weapons means for a future conflict in the Southwest Pacific. Houthi action in the Red Sea has demonstrated that these weapons make area-denial possible from dispersed land-based positions at long range. What’s the answer?
Also in Defence, insightful perspectives on intelligence-based capability sustainment from Austal’s Rod Bird, and the latest arms import/export data from SIPRI illustrates the impacts that the Ukraine conflict and geopolitical ripples in Asia are having on the movement of defence materiel internationally.
In Homeland Security, Chair of the New Zealand Crowded Places Security Advisory Group Chris Kumeroa calls for more political leadership on raising awareness nationally on how to protect venues from attack and how to stay safe during an attack, and with the recent start of Foodstuffs North Island’s Live Facial Recognition trial, I explore the need for a bigger conversation – and leadership – around the deployment of this controversial tech.
In this issue we’re again fortunate to be joined by Fortinet, this time breaking down the research on how adopting automation and AI can help SecOps teams address the increasing complexity and volume of cyber threats.
All this, and much more in this issue of Line of Defence, including a call for nominations for this year’s Tohu Awards! Hosted by the Minister of Defence and run by the Defence Employer Support Council, this awards recognise organisations who employ Reservists, Cadet Force Officers and graduates of Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) Programmes.
Get in touch if you feel you’ve got something to contribute to the conversation!
Nicholas Dynon, Auckland.
