Paper Number:
149.702.
Paper Title:
New Zealand’s Defence Policy.
Credits Value:
30 credits.
Calendar Prescription:
A study of the formulation and implementation of New Zealand’s defence policy.
Pre and co requisites:
Prerequisites: Graduate status.
Corequisites: None.
Semester:
Semester Two.
Campus:
Palmerston North.
Mode:
Extramural.
E-Learning Category:
N (no web access required).
Paper Coordinator and lecturer contact details:
Dr Lance Beath
Centre for Defence Studies
Telephone: (06) 350 5876
Email: Lance.Beath@vuw.ac.nz
Status of contact or block courses:
Strongly recommended.
The dates and locations of contact courses can be found at
http://study.massey.ac.nz/contact_course.htm
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to analyse defence and
security policy within a broad public policy framework. They will be able to
critically examine and discuss a range of theoretical, research and policy
material related to defence, security and public policy.
Students completing this course will be able to:
•
Define the attributes of good policy and be able to constructively
analyse the strengths and weaknesses of various policy approaches
Centre for Defence Studies
149702_0702_PNTH_E.doc
Page 1 of 3
Last Updated: 29/3/07
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Describe the broader historical, political, economic and cultural
influences that have impacted on the development of New Zealand
defence policy since the First World War
Describe the relationship in New Zealand between foreign, defence
and national security policy
Understand the continuities as well as the discontinuities in New
Zealand defence policy
Describe the main features of the present approach to Defence Policy
as well as the immediate antecedents (the 1991 and 1997 Defence
White Papers)
Describe the main points of criticism that have been levelled at current
policy and be able to critically evaluate the arguments that have been
made both to reinforce as well as counter these criticisms
Understand the main features of the constitutional and legal framework
within which the New Zealand Defence Force operates as well as the
structural arrangements connecting the Ministry of Defence and the
NZDF together
Describe the main features of the Australian New Zealand Defence
Relationship and understand the broad historical as well as strategic
forces that are at play in CDR
Understand the possible impact on future New Zealand defence policy
of technology developments including information age effects,
asymmetrical warfare, terrorism and other factors that need to be taken
into account
Discuss the possible nature of future strategic choices that may be
open to New Zealand and within which capability and doctrinal matters
will need to be resolved
Have some understanding of the broader strategic implications for New
Zealand of the defence policy choices we make, both now and in the
future.
Major topics or paper structure:
Introduction to Defence Policy. New Zealand Historical Context. Current
Defence Policy. Commentaries on Defence Policy under the Clark
Government. Constitutional, Legal and Structural Issues in Defence.
Australia New Zealand Closer Defence Relationship. Future Directions in
Defence Policy. Strategic Choices for New Zealand. Conclusions.
Assessment Proportions:
Internal Assessment 100%
Centre for Defence Studies
149702_0702_PNTH_E.doc
Page 2 of 3
Last Updated: 29/3/07
Description of assessment activities:
Assignment 1 - 20%
Assignment 2 - 35%
Assignment 3 – 35%
Contact Course – 10%
Total – 100%
Due dates / deadlines:
The due dates for assignments (and any other internal assessment components) will
be advised at the start of the semester.
Final examination dates can be found at http://study.massey.ac.nz/search_paper.asp
Penalties for late assignment submission:
TBA.
Assignment turnaround:
Three weeks.
Any specific requirements for passing the paper:
None.
Principal Textbook:
N/A.
Centre for Defence Studies
149702_0702_PNTH_E.doc
Page 3 of 3
Last Updated: 29/3/07