Editor's Note

Kia ora and welcome to the October-November 2023 issue of New Zealand Security Magazine! It’s awards season, and this year saw Otautahi Christchurch play host to the big event – we cover all the winners in this issue of NZSM! Also, nominations are now open for the fourth running of the Women in Security Awards Aotearoa – details inside.

As always, a big thanks to our wonderful advertisers. As I keep reiterating, quality journalism and expert commentary comes at a cost, and our advertisers play an important role by contributing to a vibrant and informed security sector through their sponsorship of the magazine.

Our gratitude extends to our supporters (both print and online) and leading manufacturers and distributors Loktronic, ASSA ABLOY, simPRO, Provision-ISR (SWL), Hikvision, Bticino (Innovation Central), and Vivotek (Clear Digital). We’d also like to recognise our association partners for this issue, the New Zealand Security Association, ASIS International New Zealand Chapter, Massey University’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies, and the New Zealand Security Sector Network.

NZSM was again proud to be a category sponsor at this year’s New Zealand Security Awards, and it was an absolute honour to be at Te Pae to celebrate the amazing finalists and award winners. Congratulations to all of you, and especially to Neekita Prakash from FIRST Security who was awarded both the Patrol Officer of the Year and the 2023 Security Professional of the Year Award!

Also inside, we look at the recently published World Security Report 2023, which studies the opinions of 1,775 CSOs from 30 countries. According to the report, companies anticipate a surge in security threats related to economic unrest, social unrest, climate change, fraud and theft. As a result, physical security budgets are predicted to increase significantly to enable investments in technologies and training.

Nicholas Dynon has written for NZSM since 2013. He writes on all things security, but is particularly fascinated with the fault lines between security and privacy, and between individual, enterprise and national security.

As another General Election draws near, so does the likelihood of disruptive and violent political activism. Waikato University’s Professor Alexander Gillespie notes that activists are resorting to increasingly disruptive forms of protest, and governments are hitting them with increasingly harsher penalties, but what’s the long term solution?

There’s plenty more great reading inside this issue of NZSM, so I hope you enjoy. Also, if you haven’t already, consider subscribing to our regular eNewsletter THE BRIEF. It’s a great way to keep up-to-date with the latest. Details on the Defsec website.

Lastly, from the team here at NZSM, congratulations to all nominees, finalists and award winners at the New Zealand Security Awards, and congratulations to the NZSA for again putting on a great event! And, don’t forget to get your nominations in for the 2023 Women in Security Awards Aotearoa!

Nicholas Dynon, Auckland.