Regional Representation at South Pacific Defence and Security Seminar
Tuesday March 22, 2005
Twenty-two participants from ten South Pacific countries have used the last two weeks as an opportunity to exchange views on regional security and assistance with officials from a multitude of New Zealand agencies as part of the South Pacific Defence and Security Seminar. Hosted by the New Zealand Defence Force the Seminar finishes at Trentham Military Camp on Thursday 24 March.
Key themes of the Seminar have been the need to better understand the complex and changing nature of the regional security environment; the importance of working with other agencies, both at home and in the region, to enhance security outcomes; the importance of continuing to work together to manage our maritime resources, particularly our fisheries; and the importance of bringing legislation into line with international standards. Questions of assistance have been addressed, at both the bilateral and multilateral levels.
The number of New Zealand agencies involved reflects the wide range of emerging challenges facing the region and the importance of a whole-of-government approach to meeting these challenges.
The Seminar also gave opportunity to recognise the region's police and defence personnel for their important contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands, to which all participating countries have contributed defence and/ or police personnel.
ENDS
For further information please contact Lieutenant Vicki Rendall, Assistant Navy Public Relations Officer, Ph: (04) 4960292, Cell 021 745 288
Questions and Answers:
Who attended the Seminar?
Officials from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga and Vanuatu attended the seminar, along with invited observers from Australia. The Seminar has a strong operational focus therefore those who participated were unit commanders (Defence and Police) and/or senior policy staff.
What New Zealand Agencies were involved?
Reflecting the whole of Government approach towards achieving aims in the region, a range of New Zealand agencies were involved, including: the New Zealand Defence Force, the Ministry of Defence, the New Zealand Police Force, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, New Zealand Immigration Service, New Zealand Customs Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management and officials from the Pacific Forum Secretariat.
What were the objectives of the Seminar?
The objectives include:
Facilitating a greater security dialogue between New Zealand and Pacific Island countries, in particular between defence, police, and security personnel;
Raising levels of awareness in respect of emerging security challenges; and
Providing a forum for an exchange of views that will inform and guide New Zealand thinking on joint activities, including maritime surveillance and regional peacekeeping.
What was the format of the Seminar?
The Seminar was a combination of lectures, panel discussions, direct engagement, and visits. All participants were given the opportunity to prepare national presentations. Participants also visited military and civilian coordination centres.
Is this a new initiative?
This is the sixth Seminar the New Zealand Defence Force has hosted, which is run by the Military Studies Institute on a biennial basis. In the past, funding for the Seminar has fallen under Defence’s Mutual Assistance Programme. This year however, the Pacific Security Fund provided funding. This has allowed the New Zealand Defence Force to invite a wider range of countries, and to draw on the considerable expertise of New Zealand agencies with security interests in the region.
What is the Pacific Security Fund?
The Pacific Security Fund, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was established in September 2003. It is an interagency pool of money drawn on by Government departments and agencies to advance or protect New Zealand’s security interests by reducing risks from threats arising in or operating through Pacific Island countries.
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