A hush-hush international security forum in Queenstown looked into New Zealand and Australia’s security partnership and how, as allies, the two countries steer complicated regional challenges.
The Aspen-Otago National Security Forum brought together senior leaders, experts and policy-makers from New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the United States to discuss shared security challenges in a joint initiative between the Aspen Institute of New Zealand, the University of Otago and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).
The forum, held under Chatham House Rules in the resort on October 10 and 11, explored themes including the New Zealand-Australia security partnership, the impact of shifting global geopolitics and the role of a continued alliance in navigating complex regional challenges, a "post-event" media statement said.
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service director-general Andrew Hampton said New Zealand’s national security was increasingly tied to global trends.
Facing shared threats required collective responsibility "at every level of society".
"New Zealand’s geographic location provides us little protection from national security threats, whether it be from violent extremism, foreign interference, espionage or cyber attacks.
"Responding to these challenges require an all-of-society response.
"The conference provided an excellent opportunity for national security professionals, academics and private sector representatives to share perspectives on these threats and discuss how best to build resilience."
University of Otago lecturer in international security and forum co-director Peter Grace said the event built on a desire to foster better understanding of national security issues and processes.
"There’s a need to demystify national security because we all have a part to play," he said.
"Part of that is understanding how threats are identified, and what processes are involved in evaluating them."
ASPI’s Statecraft and Intelligence Centre head Chris Taylor said in a strategic environment which was increasingly fragmented, and in which threats and pressures were "coalescing", the Australia-New Zealand relationship remained "a source of real, mutual strength".
University of Otago professor of politics and forum co-director Robert Patman said the event was timely.
“It is important to be able to bring New Zealand and Australian policy practitioners and specialists together to discuss mutual security concerns at a time of considerable uncertainty.
“Such uncertainty is linked to intensified geopolitical rivalries and the proliferation of issues that do not respect borders. Thus, the Aspen-Otago National Security Forum provides a chance for participants to exchange ideas and learn from each other on a range of security challenges.”
Aspen Institute of New Zealand chief executive Christine Maiden Sharp said the forum helped strengthen connections across countries and sectors, ensuring New Zealand remained a "proactive and relevant contributor to regional and global security", while ASPI senior fellow Dr Elizabeth Buchanan said the conversations also served as a reminder of "public agency" in facing complex issues.
"We need to give society agency — to remind Australians and New Zealanders that we are innovative countries.
"We are scrappy and smart, and we have the ability to come up with the solutions to the challenges we face."
— Allied Media
