Welcome to The Ministry of Defence

Naumai ki te Manatū Kaupapa Waonga

We are the Government’s lead civilian advisor on defence. We also purchase major equipment which becomes a capability when it is used by service men and women of the New Zealand Defence Force.

Ko mātou ngā kaitohutohu matua ki te kāwanatanga mo ngā kaupapa waonga. Nā mātou hoki, ngā taputapu nunui i hoko, hei āheitanga i roto i ngā ringa o ngā tāne me ngā wahine o Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa.

Who we are

A civilian agency giving advice to Government on Defence matters

What we do

We deliver capability and provide strategic advice

Industry working with Defence

We work together with industry to deliver Defence capability

Work for us

Our staff profiles and current vacancies

Featured & recent publications

Ngā whakaaturanga hou

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.

Review of defence procurement policies and practices 2021

secretary of defence expenses disclosure 2021 2022

Chief Executive Disclosure of Expenses 2021 - 2022 (PDF file)

Chief Executive Disclosure of Expenses 2021 - 2022 (Excel file)

Defence Policy Review: Terms of Reference

Major Projects Report 2021

View all publications

The latest from The Ministry

Ngā pānuitanga hou o te wā

Freyberg scholar: Niamh O’Donnell

Niamh O’Donnell was the recipient of a 2021 Defence Freyberg scholarship worth $23,000 toward her Master of International Studies at the University of Otago.

News

P-8A Poseidon: Air Surveillance Maritime Patrol for Aotearoa

The countdown is on for the arrival of the first of four P-8A Poseidon’s in December. Track the progress the team at the Ministry of Defence is making on this significant investment in strengthening Aotearoa’s maritime surveillance capability.

News

Defence Policy Review announced

The Government today announced it has commissioned a Defence Policy Review to ensure that New Zealand’s Defence policy, strategy, and planned capability investments remain fit for purpose.

Publication

View all items