Defence: an evolving approach: Gerry Brownlee reviews the security environment confronting New Zealand and the government's response to new challenges.

• Author: Brownlee, Gerry

New Zealand faces an uncertain and unstable international strategic environment. Changes in the last fifteen years have forced new attention to its security. Technological change is having a significant impact, and has greatly increased the risk of hostile action against our infrastructure or economy. New Zealanders, both at home and abroad, are not immune to terrorist attacks. The growing challenges have been addressed in the Defence white paper released in June. The plans it outlines reflect strong commitment by the government to maintaining a well-equipped and responsive defence force that can respond to a range of likely security challenges in the future.

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The last fifteen years has seen the international strategic environment become increasingly uncertain and unstable. If we ever were in a benign strategic environment, we most certainly are no longer. Some of the changes have evolved more gradually: for example, the resurgence of a more assertive Russia; the growing economic might of China and its emergence as a military big power; and the cause of concern to Russia and China, and the whole of the Asia-Pacific region, the volatile and unpredictable North Korea. But some changes have come in the form of major shocks like the 9/11 terror attacks or the dramatic emergence of Daesh (ISIS) and other sectarian terrorist groups.

New Zealand's concept of security has also evolved. We can no longer afford to think about our security from a perspective that says our geographic location provides a fortress against would-be invaders. Indeed, those terms, fortress and invaders, are along with most traditional descriptors of threat and deterrent, being redefined by advances in technology. These advances have brought New Zealand economically and socially closer to the world, and this connectivity also carries increased risks.

Cyber threats are growing markedly both in quantity and variety. They can emanate from anywhere and target any of us. We have seen parts of the Ukrainian power gird shut down and 30,000 computers in Saudi Arabia's national oil firm disabled. Just weeks ago denial of service attacks were part of the reason for crashing the Australian government's online census. Such events occurring in New Zealand are not inconceivable. Cyber-attacks, and the need for cyber defences, are now business as usual for many organisations.

New Zealand commerce, social services and government services also rely increasingly on space-based infrastructure, such as satellites. This infrastructure supports critical communications and navigation functions. It is the modern oil of economic prosperity, helps maintain public safety and, in a defence context, supports our military operations.

Terror threat

Nor are we immune from the terror threat. Extremist groups have shown a sophisticated grasp of technology and social media. This has enabled them to penetrate communities globally to take advantage of the vulnerable and disaffected. Terror attacks in other countries pose obvious threats to life and property--and in the case of Daesh have undermined national borders. This has been borne out with the recent attacks in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Syria, France, Germany, Afghanistan, Turkey, Belgium, the United States, Iraq and Australia.

Terror attacks outside of New Zealand can have a direct impact on New Zealanders too. On any given day there are about 80,000 New Zealanders overseas. Roughly half a million New Zealand citizens live in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. So New Zealand has a strong interest in contributing to counter-terror efforts overseas.

Overall, we are seeing increasing challenges to the international rules-based order. We have a strong interest in supporting this order. This is the reason we sought a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Examples abound, whether in the Middle East, the Ukraine and Crimea and arguably even closer to home in the South Pacific, where transnational crime is undermining the sovereignty of nations whose ability to control their coastlines is already limited.

As a small country we rely on a stable international rules-based order. This provides a level playing field, according the...