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NZ Defence Force hosts South Pacific Defence and Security Seminar

Wednesday 9 March, 2005

The New Zealand Defence Force will host a South Pacific Defence and Security Seminar from 10-24 March, at the Military Studies Institute, Trentham Military Camp.

“The Seminar brings together police, defence, and security officials from 15 countries and regional organisations from throughout the South Pacific, including from the Pacific Forum Secretariat. Its aim is to broaden the region’s collective understanding of emerging security challenges in the South Pacific and to examine whole-of-government approaches to countering these threats” said Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson.

Participating officials will discuss such issues as the strategic environment, international law, maritime surveillance, trans-national crime, disaster management and regional peacekeeping.

The Seminar will be funded from the Government’s Pacific Security Fund. The fund was established in September 2003 with the objective of strengthening security in the Pacific through the provision of advice, training, and technical assistance.

“The South Pacific region faces a diverse and increasing range of security challenges. Countering these challenges requires a regional approach involving the assets and skills of regional law enforcement agencies, military and government. The South Pacific Defence and Security Seminar is part of this process.”

ENDS

For further information please contact Lieutenant Vicki Rendall, Defence Public Relations, (04) 496 0292 or 021 745 288.

Questions and Answers

Who has been invited to attend the Seminar?

Invitations to attend the Seminar were forwarded to the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, American Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga and Vanuatu. Australia and the French Forces in New Caledonia have also been invited to send observers.

What New Zealand Agencies are involved?

A range of New Zealand agencies will be 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, and the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

What are 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.

How is the Seminar formatted?

The Seminar will be a combination of lectures, panel discussions, direct engagement, and visits. All participants will be given the opportunity to prepare national presentations. The programme will cover such topics as the strategic environment, international law, maritime surveillance, trans-national crime, and regional peacekeeping. Participants will also visit military and civilian coordination centres.

Who does the Seminar target?

The Seminar has a strong operational focus. Participants will therefore include unit commanders (Defence and Police) and/or senior policy staff.

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 is providing 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.