Kia ora and welcome to the Summer 2025-26 edition – and 38th issue – of Line of Defence Magazine!
In this edition, we’re privileged to be joined by contributing writers former Defence Minister Hon Dr Wayne Mapp QSO, Editor-at-Large Dr Peter Greener, University of Waikato Prof Alexander Gillespie, Massey University’s Dr John Battersby, and former NZ Army Officers Josh Wineera and Graeme Doull.
Some excellent updates also from Line of Defence sponsors Shield AI and GA-ASI and messages from Ventia and Brightstar. These leading organisations make our publication possible.
Read or download the 44-page full-colour Summer 2024-25 edition:
In this ultimate issue of Line of Defence Magazine for 2025, we are once again joined by our most prolific contributor, Wayne Mapp, who observes that with waning capability relative to Australia, New Zealand is no longer expected to be the ally it once was. What does this mean, and what does it suggest for the future of our place among friendly military powers?
In the first of his two articles in this issue, Graeme Doull recommends that the NZDF remove its ‘replacement mindset’ when it comes to major platform procurement. In this second article, he argues that the NZ Army has become overly process-minded to its detriment, and that more strategic thinking is needed to restore the balance.
Peter Greener returns to our pages to break down New Zealand’s deliberations over the ANZAC frigates replacement – and why two ships should not be an option, while Josh Wineera digs into history to find strong precedent for reimagining existing air platforms in the context of manned-unmanned teaming.
In the wake of the tragic attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, John Battersby explains just how difficult it is for authorities to flag a potential terrorist. Accurately divining a person’s future intentions, he writes, is a devilishly difficult undertaking to pull off. Alexander Gillespie writes that the onus is now on New Zealand to learn from the Bondi experience and any gun law changes Australia enacts in its aftermath.
All this, and much more in this issue of Line of Defence, including the Tahu Awards, new security and defence agreements with Japan, Police body-worn cameras, and the latest Defence Industry news.
Season’s greetings from the Line of Defence team, and here’s to a fantastic 2026!
Nicholas Dynon, Auckland.
