Long-term Insights Briefing

The Ministry’s current draft LTIB addresses the topic: How technology innovations are likely to influence New Zealand’s defence capabilities beyond 2035.

The draft document examines technology innovations most relevant to defence forces in the future, highlighting the potential impact on capabilities and illustrating possible application scenarios. It maps global trends in defence technologies relevant to New Zealand.

The draft findings have been organised around four major technology themes:

  1. The power of data
  2. Human-machine teaming
  3. Next-generation effectors
  4. Expeditionary sustainment

The draft briefing also identifies three major shifts which carry significant operational, policy, and system level implications for Defence to consider:

  1. From human accountability by default, to human accountability by design
  2. From software supporting hardware, to hardware supporting software
  3. From public engagement, to public inclusion

This draft briefing builds upon engagements and research previously conducted, such as those the Defence Policy Review, and a previous LTIB conducted in collaboration with the wider National Security Sector.

Have your say 

We would appreciate your feedback on the draft document, in particular:

  • What technology innovations do you think are the most important to highlight in the briefing, or in the Ministry’s broader research and work programme?
  • Are you aware of additional research that should influence the draft content or findings of this briefing?
  • Are there other issues that you feel need to be addressed by the topic: ‘How technology innovations are likely to influence New Zealand’s defence capabilities beyond 2035’?

If you are interested in reviewing the draft briefing or providing feedback, please read the consultation document and provide feedback to engage@defence.govt.nz by 25 November 2025.

As required by the Act, the Ministry’s 2025 LTIB was also informed by public consultation on the proposed topic. 

Following consultation, the Ministry will finalise and publish the briefing in accordance with the Public Service Act 2020.

The Ministry’s current draft LTIB addresses the topic: How technology innovations are likely to influence New Zealand’s defence capabilities beyond 2035.

The draft document examines technology innovations most relevant to defence forces in the future, highlighting the potential impact on capabilities and illustrating possible application scenarios. It maps global trends in defence technologies relevant to New Zealand.

The draft findings have been organised around four major technology themes:

  1. The power of data
  2. Human-machine teaming
  3. Next-generation effectors
  4. Expeditionary sustainment

The draft briefing also identifies three major shifts which carry significant operational, policy, and system level implications for Defence to consider:

  1. From human accountability by default, to human accountability by design
  2. From software supporting hardware, to hardware supporting software
  3. From public engagement, to public inclusion

This draft briefing builds upon engagements and research previously conducted, such as those the Defence Policy Review, and a previous LTIB conducted in collaboration with the wider National Security Sector.

Have your say 

We would appreciate your feedback on the draft document, in particular:

  • What technology innovations do you think are the most important to highlight in the briefing, or in the Ministry’s broader research and work programme?
  • Are you aware of additional research that should influence the draft content or findings of this briefing?
  • Are there other issues that you feel need to be addressed by the topic: ‘How technology innovations are likely to influence New Zealand’s defence capabilities beyond 2035’?

If you are interested in reviewing the draft briefing or providing feedback, please read the consultation document and provide feedback to engage@defence.govt.nz by 25 November 2025.

As required by the Act, the Ministry’s 2025 LTIB was also informed by public consultation on the proposed topic. 

Following consultation, the Ministry will finalise and publish the briefing in accordance with the Public Service Act 2020.