The final episode of Indefensible New Zealand.
A challenging discussion about the need to transform the personnel in the New Zealand Defence Force.
With the NZ Defence Capability Framework currently being worked on, Simon takes an alternative analysis and alternative futures view of how the NZDF could look.
I have a vision of a New Zealand society bound together with a common thread of service to the country no matter when or from where you came here. Shared stories that come from a programme where the rich, poor, immigrant and tangata whenua all have an uncommon experience together.Voluntary national service or VNS is one tool in achieving that vision. There are three main problems that VNS seeks to address:Lack of social cohesion Migration imbalanceThe global failure in the western w...
This episode was produced in the run-up to the new government’s first budget later in May. There is an expectation of increased spending on Defence. That remains to be seen but if there is, what should it be on?A lot of discussion takes place around what sort of hardware and how many people the New Zealand Defence Force needs to have in order to achieve its mission.Considerably less discussion focuses on what the Government and people of New Zealand need to do to allow the NZDF to achieve tha...
The New Zealand Defence Force has a number of well documented problems. Even at full strength, it lacks the mass, firepower and sustainability to engage in medium to high intensity conflict. However, at the moment it also has significant recruitment, retention, morale and mental health problems. The latter extends to the veteran community as well.All service chiefs are due for replacement in the next few weeks and months. With a new defence (Hon Judith Collins) and associate defence minister ...
Recorded on 6 February 2024 which is Waitangi Day in New Zealand. Simon discusses the lack of meaning of the national day for most New Zealanders. The discussion then travels to thinking about how the NZ Defence Force epitomises an effective multi-cultural example of unity for the country and how this could be enhanced while simultaneously dealing with current personnel shortages.The episode ends with a call to make the day less about grievance and appeasement and more about a national celebr...
There has been a lot of speculation about defence since the announcement of the new Cabinet. I would classify much of this as “breathless longing” in that many are joining the dots between last year’s documentary assessments, a deteriorating international security situation, a hollow defence force and a strong national security related ministerial line-up in a new government to incorrectly conclude that Defence is in for a financial sugar rush.That is simply not going to happen for reasons I ...
Welcome to Season 2 of Indefensible New Zealand - the podcast all about New Zealand's national security. In this episode, Dr Simon Ewing-Jarvie discusses the post-election situation for defence. At the time of recording, the new coalition government parties are still negotiating and it is not yet known who will be the Minister of Defence and Veterans.
Which combination of parties could potentially form the next New Zealand government? What happens with votes for parties that don't make it into parliament? Overhangs hung parliaments aren't rock climbing terms but also can affect the outcome of the election. And are there any other weird and wonderful parallel universes to explore in this space? Heather Roy and Simon Ewing-Jarvie are out on the town recording at Brewtown in Upper Hutt for this episode. We received a request from Keith Griffiths, ACT's Kaikoura candidate to mention the ACT Party's public meeting with leader David Seymour in Blenheim at the ASB theatre 6-8 pm on Monday 4 September. We are happy to receive similar requests from other parties and candidates but mentioning them isn't an endorsement. Neither of the hosts belong to any political party.
The second batch of audience questions relating to New Zealand's General Election 2023
New Zealand has entered its formal election campaign period. That's always signalled by a proliferation of large and brightly coloured billboards appearing around the country. Heather Roy and Simon Ewing-Jarvie go on a 'field trip' (code for 'sorry about the wind and other background noise') just outside Wellington to check out some of the party campaign slogans. Slogans from past campaigns covered in a recent article on the Spinoff are also included in the mix!!!!!!!!!! Send us in your views about this year's slogans as well as any other political questions you'd like covered in our regular audience Q+A episodes. Use the contents page at our website torquepoint.co.nz.
With so many parties promising to take Goods and Services Tax (GST) off fruit and vegetables in the lead-up to the New Zealand General Election 2023, Heather Roy and Simon Ewing-Jarvie felt compelled to take a dive into this policy debate. If you can't spare 8 minutes - they think that it's a bad idea. But there is at least one bad Dad joke in there - maybe two! And Damien Grant gets a mention so if you like his writing - you should subscribe to this podcast. Send in your questions for this podcast via the contacts page at torquepoint.co.nz.
In the last week, the New Zealand government has released three documents relating to national security: Aotearoa’s National Security Strategy: Secure Together Tō Tātou Korowai Manaaki Defence Policy and Strategy Statement Future Force Design Principles These were preceded by a public consultation exercise, a long-term insights briefing and a foreign policy assessment In the coming week, we expect the release of an updated threat assessment. Since Defence Minister Andrew Little’s announcements last week, there has been at least a dozen stories a day ranging from the importance of New Zealand’s ‘first ever’ national security strategy, to an upcoming major cash injection into defence and a complete sell-out to foreign interests – notably those of the USA. Never in the field of Kiwi conflict have so many words been written on behalf of so many people by so few and for so little effect. It’s not all bad. The fact that there is a document that says “National Security Strategy” means we now have a document to debate and improve. The acknowledgement that the public must be taken into the conversation is long overdue – as long as it happens. The written acknowledgement that greater investment in defence is required is very significant. I know you can hear the whistling of an incoming “BUT…” A strategy it is not. It is what academics would call a ‘meta-policy.’ By its own admission it sits over the country’s: Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism Strategy Cyber Security Strategy Maritime Security Strategy Transnational Organised Crime Strategy Pacific Resilience Strategy Mass Arrivals Prevention Strategy Defence Policy Statements and White Papers National Space Policy Border Security Strategy A strategy is contested. Its success can be measured. This is a policy dressed in strategy clothes. The best thing to potentially come out of this process is the creation of a National Intelligence and Security Agency. But that is not explicitly written only talked about. The Defence Policy and Strategy Statement is little more than a re-hash of earlier documents such as the 2021 Assessment which followed Ron Mark’s ‘shell game’ that produced the 2018 Strategic Defence Policy Review and the 2019 Defence Capability Plan. These exercises in political pilates only stretch out acquisition times for new capabilities. Then there are the Future Force Design Principles which “acts as a bridge between the high-level policy and strategy in the Defence Policy and Strategy Statement 2023 and detailed investment planning that will be included in a Defence Capability Plan.” – The latter document will be sometime next year. Only then will an acquisition process be initiated. When you take out the pictures and the fluff, there’s 1800 words on 5 pages wrapped around 11 principles. Three of these are ‘fixed’ and eight are ‘sliding principles.’ Simon Ewing-Jarvie and Heather Roy discuss these documents and what they mean for New Zealand's national security.
Heather Roy and Simon Ewing-Jarvie discuss current political issues that are front of mind for voters. These range from the economy and cost of living to crime and co-governance. Issues episodes will recur throughout the season so send in your ideas or questions for discussion. You can send in questions for the podcast hosts through the contacts page at torquepoint.co.nz You can read more about what each of the hosts is writing about and also support this work at the following sites: Heather's Political Blog Simon's National Security Blog Simon's Patreon Page Buy Simon a Coffee
Heather Roy and Simon Ewing-Jarvie answer questions from the VoterTorque audience. In this episode the questions addressed are: 1. What does TOP stand for? 2. Will Winston Peters get back into parliament? 3. What is an overhang? 4. What is meant by hard right and hard left? Questions and answers will be published approximately every 5th episode. You can send in questions for the podcast hosts through the contacts page at torquepoint.co.nz You can read more about what each of the hosts is writing about and also support this work at the following sites: Heather's Political Blog Simon's National Security Blog Simon's Patreon Page Buy Simon a Coffee
Do political polls reflect or shape public opinion in New Zealand? With an election due on 14 October, this is an important question that is discussed by Heather Roy and Simon Ewing-Jarvie. What's important are the trends and other questions like whether people think the country is headed in the right or wrong direction. You can read more about what each of them is writing about and also support this work at the following sites: Heather's Political Blog Simon's National Security Blog Simon's Patreon Page Buy Simon a Coffee
Simon Ewing-Jarvie and Heather Roy take the audience through the TorquePoint version of the political compass quiz. This episode links with S2E2 podcast and describes how you can use a simple questionnaire to determine where you lie on the political spectrum. This is useful for working out which parties and policies you are most closely aligned with. A pdf version of TorquePoint's political compass can be downloaded for free from their website at torquepoint.co.nz You can read more about what each of the hosts is writing about and also support this work at the following sites: Heather's Political Blog Simon's National Security Blog Simon's Patreon Page Buy Simon a Coffee
Former ACT Deputy Leader and Government Minister, Heather Roy, and TorquePoint CDO Simon Ewing-Jarvie update their political spectrum for the 2023 New Zealand General Election. The series is also available as a slideshow on YouTube. It examines the merits of commentators and journalists referring to parties and politicians as simply left or right. More information is available at torquepoint.co.nz
Simon Ewing-Jarvie and Heather Roy from TorquePoint are back for the run up to New Zealand's 2023 General Election to bring you their analysis of each of the political parties, what they're offering and how they compare. This introductory episode outline the main points to be covered. If you're a newcomer or a political junkie, why not listen to the 22 episodes from Season 1 in 2020 as well?