Kia ora and welcome to the April-May 2026 issue of New Zealand Security Magazine! The calendar year is flying past, and a new financial year has already begun!
As always, a very big thanks to our wonderful advertisers. Our advertisers are businesses that are committed to our industry. Through their sponsorship of this magazine they play an important role in contributing to a vibrant and informed security sector.
In this issue of NZSM, we feature a diverse range of news and commentary covering myriad aspects of Aotearoa’s security industry, from AI cyber threats to the “chronically undervalued” work of security officers.
View/Download the 48-page full-colour magazine…
Since my article in the February-March issue of NZSM on New Zealand’s retail crime statistics, my argument that we’re all working off flawed data has gained plenty of attention… and some detractors. Following republication of the article in Newsroom, the argument has been the subject of an RNZ interview and articles in several industry publications in NZ and abroad. The data is flawed, yet many within our industry are clearly okay with that.
The problem with misleading retail crime stats is that they become the basis for sensationalised media reports, misinformed government responses, and dubious security investments. Our supposed retail crime epidemic is providing the justification for investments in obtrusive tech – like facial recognition – that to many New Zealanders has no place in our supermarkets.
Don’t get me wrong. I support the deployment of facial recognition technology in contexts where there is an established social licence for doing so. The available research tells us that use case for FRT to prevent the entry of self-declared gambling addicts into casinos, for example, is widely accepted, as is its use at airports and ticketed venues and high-security sites. But just because the tech exists, it doesn’t mean that the public are okay with being subjected to it when buying their groceries.
I’m well aware that my position on this topic is not one widely shared among my security industry colleagues, but there it is… and I welcome for publication any well researched articles that offer contending views.
On the associations front, we feature NZSA CEO Gary Morrison’s most recent newsletter and we catch up with the latest updates from the NZSA Special Interest Groups.
Also inside, recent product releases, New Zealand’s cybersecurity strategy, avoiding the mistakes of the COVID-19 response, the problem with ‘stupid rules’, Charlie O’Donnell calls it a day, Brian Switalla celebrates a double milestone, and much, much more.
If you haven’t already, consider subscribing to our regular eNewsletter THE BRIEF. It’s a great way to keep up to date with the latest. If you’re not already an NZSM subscriber, make sure you visit www.defsec.net.nz to sign up!
Keep safe.
Nicholas Dynon, Auckland
