State of Threat: The challenges to Aotearoa New Zealand’s national security

Increasing US–China tensions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, disruptions to supply chains and maritime trade, right-wing extremism and evolving digital currencies, according to a new book published by Massey University Press the security context is fraught.

In State of Threat: The challenges to Aotearoa New Zealand’s national security, published by Massey University Press in November, local and international academics and sector experts discuss the issues facing New Zealand across defence, diplomacy, intelligence, policy, trade, biosecurity and border management.

The book is edited by Associate Professor William Hoverd, Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS) at Massey University, and Deidre Ann McDonald, a Teaching Fellow at CDSS.

According to Hoverd, it is a particularly volatile time internationally. “The last time tensions were this high was in the Cold War,” he said. “All our authors see turbulence and uncertainty in the international environment in ways which they have not seen before.”

“There is heightened language around risk and threat arising from the ongoing war in Ukraine and the tensions between the United States and China. And let’s not forget that Australia, our only military ally, has been having a particularly challenging time with China over the last couple of years.”

Each of the four parts of the book examine a relevant security issue or theme, from threats to the international rules-based order, such as Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, to the ever-present challenges of domestic terrorism and extremism, the illicit domestic drug trade and potential biosecurity breaches. New potential threats are described, including the vulnerability of our deep-sea submarine cables, which connect us to the digital world, and the disruptive power of cryptocurrencies.

The book raises tough questions, especially around the decisions New Zealanders need to make about our foreign and trade policies in response to the US-China Great Power Competition in the Pacific. It also looks at some misconceptions about our domestic safety, asking the provocative question, ‘What exactly does a terrorist look like?’.

This timely and up-to-date analysis of New Zealand’s most important security issues is a mustread for anyone interested in today’s ‘threatscape’ and how New Zealand can navigate safely through it.

Associate Professor William Hoverd is the director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS) at Massey University. CDSS teaches New Zealand’s only qualifications in defence studies, security studies, border and biosecurity, and intelligence. This is his fourth book.

Deidre Ann McDonald is a teaching fellow with Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University. Prior to teaching, Dee had a legal career — mostly working in the government sector. She now coordinates Massey University’s Diploma and Certificate in Border and Biosecurity. Dee has recently submitted her PhD on Aotearoa’s Mycoplasma bovis incursion.

PUBLISHED: 9 NOVEMBER 2023

ISBN: 9781991016522

RRP: $60

Available online and from all good bookstores www.masseypress.ac.nz/books/state-of-threat