Policy and Planning Division
The Policy and Planning Division provides advice to the Government on defence policy and the military capabilities needed to achieve government objectives. It has both Ministry of Defence and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) staff.
The Policy and Planning Division has four main functions:
- formulating policy advice on meeting current defence needs and interests;
- providing advice on, and managing, New Zealand's international defence relationships;
- formulating advice on policies and military capabilities to meet future security needs; and
- co-managing with the NZDF the Capability Management Framework and providing support to the Capability Management Board.
To accomplish these roles the Policy and Planning Division has five branches, described below. They report through the Deputy Secretary (Policy and Planning) to the Secretary of Defence, and report to both the Secretary and the Chief of Defence Force on international defence relations matters.
Dr Brook Barrington is Deputy Secretary of Defence (Policy and Planning).
International Defence Relations Branch (IDR)
The International Defence Relations Branch comprises personnel from the Ministry of Defence and the NZDF. The Branch is responsible for managing New Zealand's bilateral and multilateral defence relations within the context of the Government's defence policy. The Branch’s outputs include: providing advice on policies and actions for the effective development and sustainment of New Zealand's international defence relations; developing and maintaining effective liaison and consultation between the MoD and NZDF, DPMC, MFAT and other security agencies both in NZ and overseas on international security issues; and engaging in the regional security architecture.
The Branch manages a programme of bilateral and multilateral defence relationships in support of the Government's defence policies and international defence diplomacy initiatives. It has prime responsibility for strategic level defence relationships such as Closer Defence Relations (CDR) with Australia, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), and relations with New Zealand's South Pacific neighbours.
The Branch is headed by Paul Sinclair (New Zealand Defence Force).
Development Branch (Dev)
The Development Branch undertakes all Ministry work on capability projects and programmes in the phases prior to acquisition. Development Branch outputs include: technical analysis of capability requirements (in conjunction with the NZDF); problem definition around capability issues; advice on capability projects; and indicative and detailed business case preparation and analysis.
The Branch is headed by Huntley Wright.
Defence Policy Branch (Pol)
The Defence Policy Branch is responsible for all defence policy matters other than those relating to international defence diplomacy or military capability development. Defence Policy Branch outputs include: the analysis of strategic futures and geopolitical trends; analysis of the current and future defence capability portfolio and associated capital expenditure analysis; contributions to NZDF doctrine and operating concepts; and preparations for the next Defence Assessment (2015). As required, it also provides purchase advice and performance measurement and monitoring services to the Minister of Defence (including in support of the NZDF organisational reform and savings programmes).
The Branch is headed by Jim Olson.
Executive Branch (Exec)
The Executive Branch’s role is to support collaborative decision making across the capability lifecycle, reflecting the formal accountabilities of the Secretary of Defence and Chief of Defence Force. The Executive Branch works with the NZDF to provide technical, administrative and secretariat support to the Capability Management Board (CMB). It assists the work of the Development Branch, Acquisitions Division and the NZDF Capability Branch to make sure that capability projects and programmes are consistent with the Capital Asset Management regime and that advice put to the CMB and Ministers is accurate, complete, robust and accessible.
The Branch is headed by Carol Douglass.
DPPU – Acquisition Support Branch
The DPPU – Acquisition Support Branch provides a strengthened relationship between the Policy and Planning and Acquisition Divisions. The Branch works to ensure that the linkages across the policy, capability development, and acquisition spectrum are recognised and take account of the work of the two divisions. The Branch contributes also to implementing whole-of-life capability management across Defence.
The Branch is headed by Andrew Wierzbicki.
Contact Policy and Planning Division
Policy and Planning Division
Ministry of Defence
P O Box 12703
Molesworth Street
Wellington 6144
New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 496 0611
Fax: +64 4 496 0859
Email: info@defence.govt.nz
