Kia ora and welcome to the Autumn 2025 edition – and 35th issue – of Line of Defence Magazine!
In this edition, we’re privileged to be joined by contributing writers Defence Minister Hon Judith Collins KC MP, former Defence Minister Hon Dr Wayne Mapp QSO, Professor Alexander Gillespie from the University of Waikato, Dr John Battersby from the Massey University Centre for Defence & Security Studies, former New Zealand Army officer Josh Wineera, former RNZN Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Brooke, and Aura Principal Security Consultant Alastair Miller.
It’s become cliché that we are living in uncertain or turbulent times. Our government, through successive Defence-focused strategic policy documents, has for several years been beating that drum. The return of Donald Trump to the White House has added credence to this narrative, as has a continuing conflict in Ukraine and the recent transiting of the Tasman by Chinese naval vessels.
Yet, here we are. Our pattern of Defence spending reflecting complacent placidity. An updated Defence Capability Plan the subject of continued delay. Big acquisition questions left unanswered – yet needing to be answered sooner rather than later.
Read or download the 48-page full-colour Autumn 2025 edition:
In an increasingly unstable environment, it is critical our NZDF are able to work closely with like-minded partners, writes Defence Minister Judith Collins, as we did with the ADF when the PLA-N task group entered our region. In his inaugural article for Line of Defence, Josh Wineera agrees, but suggests it is worth our while focusing on our historically overshadowed relationship with Canada.
Dr Wayne Mapp argues that New Zealand should be looking to maintain proportionality with Australia when it comes to Defence spending, suggesting we should look to keep pace with increases in Australia’s surface fleet at a ratio of 5:1. In his first Line of Defence article, Jonathan Brooke makes the argument that it’s time to align with Australia’s procurement strategy in deciding on an Anzac-class frigate replacement.
From an intelligence perspective, despite the uncertainties of the Trump administration, Five Eyes membership is of enduring value, writes Dr John Battersby. Five eyes, he suggests, are better than none.
And, back to those PLA-N vessels in the Tasman, Professor Alexander Gillespie suggests that Beijing may have scored an own goal by unwittingly pushing Wellington closer to AUKUS. In my contribution to this issue, I take a different perspective, writing that the south seas cruise was a pantomime that had very little to do at all with our quiet part of the Pacific… and that the own goal was, in fact, ours.
Lastly, on behalf of the team at Line of Defence Magazine and Defsec New Zealand, my congratulations to all Award Winners and Highly Commended Finalists in the 2025 Women in Security Awards Aotearoa! This year, the WiSAAs recognised seven winners across international security, law enforcement, fraud and online harm prevention, private security, security management, and countering violent extremism. Defsec is proud to organise the WiSAAs, and we’re thankful to our key support partners UN Women New Zealand and the New Zealand Security Sector Network. There’s more on our inspirational 2025 WiSAA Award Recipients inside.
I hope that your 2025 is progressing well, despite its continuing uncertainties.
Nicholas Dynon, Auckland.
