VoterTorque - New Zealand Politics in Plain English
A fresh season for each new election from former government minister and ACT Party Deputy Leader Hon Heather Roy and TorquePoint business partner and former ACT Party candidate and ministerial staffer Dr Simon Ewing-Jarvie.
TorquePoint runs the popular LobbyTorque experiential learning programme on effective political lobbying in New Zealand. With much media coverage reduced to soundbites, many are frustrated with the lack of real commentary from people who have worked in Parliament.
Season 1 covers the lead up to the New Zealand 2020 general election include two referenda.
Season 2 is aligned with the 2023 election campaign.
VoterTorque - New Zealand Politics in Plain English
VoterTorque Political Podcast Election 2023 S2E7 - National Security Government Announcements
In the last week, the New Zealand government has released three documents relating to national security: Aotearoa’s National Security Strategy: Secure Together Tō Tātou Korowai Manaaki Defence Policy and Strategy Statement Future Force Design Principles These were preceded by a public consultation exercise, a long-term insights briefing and a foreign policy assessment.
In the coming week, we expect the release of an updated threat assessment. Since Defence Minister Andrew Little’s announcements last week, there has been at least a dozen stories a day ranging from the importance of New Zealand’s ‘first ever’ national security strategy, to an upcoming major cash injection into defence and a complete sell-out to foreign interests – notably those of the USA. A strategy it is not. It is what academics would call a ‘meta-policy.’ By its own admission it sits over the country’s:
- Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism Strategy
- Cyber Security Strategy
- Maritime Security Strategy
- Transnational Organised Crime Strategy
- Pacific Resilience Strategy
- Mass Arrivals Prevention Strategy
- Defence Policy Statements and White Papers
- National Space Policy
- Border Security Strategy
A strategy is contested. Its success can be measured. This is a policy dressed in strategy clothes. The best thing to potentially come out of this process is the creation of a National Intelligence and Security Agency. But that is not explicitly written only talked about.
Heather and Simon discuss these documents.