DEFENCE
Judith Collins: Innovation, opportunities and being better together We need to work well with others, to contribute, to innovate and to look for opportunities to be better together. AUKUS Pillar II may provide additional opportunity for New Zealand, writes Defence Minister Judith Collins, but it’s early days.
Hon Judith Collins is AttorneyGeneral, Minister for Digitising Government, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Minister for Space, Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques and New Zealand’s 43rd Minister of Defence.
8
It’s not often you get to combine all the things you are passionate about in your job, but that’s exactly the privileged situation I find myself in. My Ministerial responsibilities span a diverse range of specialist areas – from space to defence, the intelligence community, digitising government as well as science, innovation, and technology, to name a few. It may not be immediately obvious, but each portfolio has more in common than first glance suggests. There is quite a lot of interoperability, and they are interconnected in a number of areas. They are also all vital for the future prosperity of New Zealand.
They rely on a foundation of hardworking professional people and personnel who are driven by a sense of service, commitment to our country and a tireless focus on delivery. There are also real opportunities, as well as real challenges, in each one. I look forward to having the opportunity to learn more, and do more, in every area. If there is one thing we can do above all others to help us advance it’s making sure we support innovation and embrace technology. We are a small but globally connected nation. We need to work well with others, to contribute, to innovate and to look for
Line of Defence
