Statement of Intent 1 July 2006 - 30 June 2009
Part 1: Strategic framework (continued)
The Defence Long-term Development Plan
A strong focus of our work over the next five years will be implementing the Defence Long-term Development Plan with the New Zealand Defence Force. Issued in June 2002, and updated in June 2003 and November 2004, and to be updated in 2006, the Defence Long-term Development Plan sets out the capability projects required to modernise and improve the New Zealand Defence Force.
The Defence Long-term Development Plan is a planning document that assists the Government to make decisions about defence capability over a ten-year period, covering current policy, priorities and affordability. The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews the Defence Long-term Development Plan, in association with the New Zealand Defence Force, to ensure it is achieving its goals. The Ministry will report the results to ministers on an annual basis and seek their decisions on spending priorities.
The 2004 Defence Long-term Development Plan update included a new category, 'Projects Approved and in Acquisition Phase'. This new category was developed in recognition of the increasing number of projects that have reached or passed the end of their contract negotiation phase.
In the 2004 Defence Long-term Development Plan capability projects fall into six categories:
- projects approved and in the acquisition phase
- projects approved in principle by the Government
- projects necessary to avoid failure to achieve policy objectives
- projects necessary to provide a well-equipped land force
- projects necessary to avoid significant risks to policy
- projects judged as having benefit but which are less critical to achieving policy objectives.
Many of the projects in the Defence Long-term Development Plan are now underway following decisions made by the Government over the past five years. The projects will significantly improve the capabilities of the New Zealand Defence Force to perform the roles and tasks prescribed by the Government. These projects are more fully discussed in the following pages.
Capability Management Framework (CMF)
The Capability Management Framework (CMF) is an evolving governance and management system designed to support defence and government decision makers to develop effective, long-term investments in defence capabilities. It articulates practices and procedures that have been operating since mid-2002 and outlines responsibility, accountability and processes for defence policy development, capability definition and acquisition through to the introduction into service and the disposal of capabilities. The outcome of this framework is to provide a well-informed, cost effective and professional defence force that embraces
continual improvement and management excellence.
The CMF articulates an integrated approach to capability development, defining sole, prime and shared responsibilities between the Ministry of Defence and New Zealand Defence Force.
Key internal stakeholders must ensure that unity of effort is the focus and that a collaborative, helpful and co-operative approach governs the construction of capabilities for defence. The end result must be a comprehensive, robust, logical and cooperative process to ensure cost effective long-term investments in defence capabilities.
