Defence Review Consultation Summary of Submissions
Responses to Submissions Form Questions (continued)
Q4: How should the Defence Force operate with other New Zealand government agencies in each strategic environment?
Level of cooperation
Most submitters focussed on cooperation between the Defence Force and other agencies in and around New Zealand's land and maritime environment. One hundred and thirty four submitters held the view that there should be close cooperation between New Zealand agencies. A whole-of-government approach is preferred by some submitters on the basis this can extend capability and make effective use of cross-agency resources. Suggestions to ensure this is effective included inter-agency collaboration, integrated training, interoperable capabilities (especially in communications), and formalised information sharing arrangements. Thirty five submitters supported some form of 'integrated force' that incorporated search, rescue, police, fisheries, civil defence, and emergency relief functions.
Other submitters had a different perspective on the extent the Defence Force should be involved in civil operations and with civil agencies. While accepting that the Defence Force should be involved in crisis situations, 21 submitters commented that civil agencies should otherwise have sufficient capability to undertake their responsibilities. Some of these submitters did not regard civil defence as a core defence role and were concerned that too much involvement could overstretch the Defence Force's resources. When the Defence Force was involved in civil operations, these submitters believed the costs of doing so should not fall on its budget. (This is covered further in Question 6.)
"An integrated national effort with no overlap of roles."
"Close working relationships should be forged wherever they are feasible and productive for each party. The experienced gained from working with other agencies locally will help the defence Force work better with them abroad in each of the strategic environments."
Range of Civilian agencies
The range of agencies that submitters expected the Defence Force to cooperate with was broad and this provided a good indication of the breadth of security-related roles and wider public sector duties it contributes to (covered further in Question 6). (The most commonly identified have the number of submissions in brackets.)
- New Zealand Police (47)
- Ministry of Education
- New Zealand Customs Service (31)
- Ministry of Research, Science and Technology
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (20)
- Land Information New Zealand
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (16)
- Local Government
- Sport and Recreation New Zealand
- Ministry of Fisheries (14)
- Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (12)
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
- New Zealand Agency for International Development
- Department of Conservation
- New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
- Department of Conservation
- Earthquake Commission
- Government Communications Security Bureau
- New Zealand Immigration Service
- Non Governmental Organisations
- New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
- New Zealand Fire Service
- Pacific regulatory agencies
- Ministry of Health
- Offshore Coast Guard services
- Ministry of Transport
Managing joint civil-military operations
Sixty submissions, many from Defence Force personnel, commented on the lines of authority and command that related to combined military and civilian ventures. A number of submitters believed that joint military and civilian operations should always come under military command as this is more effective. Others held the view that operations undertaken within New Zealand should be subject to a joint command or civilian-based whole-of-government approach. Some thought that it was currently unclear what command arrangements should apply in different circumstances that the Defence Force operated in with other Government agencies. More planning and clear procedures to cover command arrangements were therefore recommended and this may involve amendments to the Defence Act 1990. Those who favoured an expanded role for the Defence Force in domestic activities also wanted amendments to the Act for this purpose.
"Current legislation needs to be adapted or modified to allow a greater participation of defence Force capabilities within NZ."
"Defence Force should support other government agencies; it should liaise with other agencies but must not be subject to their control."
"Develop Civil Military Cooperation policies."
