Release of the Defence Assessment 2021, Ministerial Priorities for Defence and Principles for Defence

Defence Assessment 2021 : he moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka

Defence Assessment 2021: he moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka / a rough sea can still be navigated was released on 8 December 2021 by the Secretary of Defence alongside the Minister of Defence.

The document provides a comprehensive review of the challenges to New Zealand’s strategic defence interests, as well as defence officials’ advice to Government on changing New Zealand’s defence policy settings.

View more information: Defence Assessment 2021: he moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka(external link)

Ministerial Priorities for Defence 2021 

The Ministerial Priorities are People, Infrastructure, and The Pacific.

• People are Defence’s greatest asset. Defence needs to ensure that personnel are ready and supported to face the challenges ahead, including those identified in Defence Assessment 2021.

• The focus on infrastructure will ensure members of the Defence Force can live and work in buildings that are healthy, safe and fit-for-purpose both now and in the future.

• The Pacific priority reflects the importance that this Government places on Pacific resilience and the important role Defence has in supporting this.

View more information here: Ministerial Priorities for Defence 2021(external link)

Principles of Defence 2021

The Principles are:

• Angitu – success, effort and striving

• Kotahitanga – unity, togetherness and collective action

• Mana/Pono – influence, trust and integrity in Defence and

• Kaitiakitanga – Defence’s work as guardians and stewards.

View more information here: Principles for Defence 2021(external link).