Protecting New Zealand's sovereign interests is a primary objective of our foreign and security policy

• New Zealand's sovereignty and territorial integrity are protected under international law, by the respect for principles enshrined in the United Nations charter and by various international instruments such as UNCLOS. New Zealand currently faces no direct military threat

• We share the conclusions of last year's Inquiry into Defence Beyond 2000 and the more recent EAB assessment that New Zealand is not directly threatened. But we do face challenges in such areas as resource protection, illegal migration, and crime

• New Zealand's security is subject to new threats that have become increasingly prominent since the end of the Cold War. We are active participants in international and regional efforts to deal with these issues using a range of civil, military and diplomatic resources.

• Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains an issue for us. New Zealand is an active participant in international initiatives to reduce the threats from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Terrorism represents a limited but continuing risk

• Terrorist activities by non-state organisations (often based on religious or ethnic causes) can present a threat. New Zealand is less likely to be the target of terrorist acts by "rogue states".

New Zealand needs the capability to deal with low-level threats to its security

• It is hard to conceive of circumstances in which New Zealand would face a direct military threat. We do, however, need the capacity to deal directly with low-level challenges to our sovereignty.

• As marine resources worldwide remain under intense pressure our fisheries and other marine resources require protection in the face of an increasing threat of illegal harvest. Continual action is required both within the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone and in the Southern Ocean.

• Illegal fishing is also a problem for some of our neighbours in the South Pacific, whose dependence on their marine resources is much greater even than ours.

• New Zealand's military assets have an important role to play in the enforcement of New Zealand and international legislation in respect of fishing in our EEZ and territorial waters. Maritime surveillance is a key element in managing unregulated or illegal fishing in New Zealand's EEZ. It is open to New Zealand to pursue remedies under international law, but in such cases the governments of fishing nations, or international tribunals, will require clear evidence and adequate documentation.

• Military assets are also used to patrol and undertake enforcement action in the Southern Ocean, to support the government's policy objectives in Antarctica and to assist in the surveillance of the EEZs in the South Pacific.

• Illegal immigration is unlikely to abate. It may well take the form of boat landings, as in Australia. Australian experience demonstrates that effective maritime surveillance, including cooperating with neighbouring jurisdictions, is important in containing this risk.

• New Zealand's security is placed at risk also through the incidence of trans-border crime, and an apparent trend towards targeting this country and the small island states associated with it. Crimes such as drug-trafficking, money-laundering and fraudulent business dealings based on flags of convenience will need to be countered.

The Defence Force may be called on to counter threats by terrorist organisations or to evacuate New Zealanders from difficult situations overseas.

• New Zealand needs to be able to respond to terrorist acts perpetrated in New Zealand. This requires special skills and special training.

• There may also be occasions where the security situation in a foreign country requires the use of defence assets to evacuate New Zealand citizens. Cambodia in 1997 was one example.

Natural disasters and civil emergencies will require Defence Force support.

• The Defence Force will play a major role in responding to natural disasters in New Zealand and in the region.

• Search and rescue is an established Defence Force function in New Zealand and elsewhere in the region. New Zealand has some regional search and rescue obligations which require maritime surveillance capabilities.

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