Indonesian Minister of Defense, Ryamizard Ryacudu, and New Zealand Minister of Defence, Mark Mitchell, met for the first time today, on 31st of May 2017 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Both Ministers reiterated that Indonesia and New Zealand enjoy a strong bilateral relationship and defence cooperation is an important component of that. Ministers confirmed the value both sides place on the bilateral defence relationship and committed to strengthening it.  Several areas of cooperation that have been identified by both Ministers to strengthen the defence relations of Indonesia and New Zealand are as follows:

a.    Bilateral visits and military exchanges, military ship visits, exercises, or other activities, particularly between the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the New Zealand Defence Force;

b.    Exchange of intelligence information in the field of defence, including the exchange of information, training, and study visits;

c.    Provision of training and education of military personnel;

d.    Regular bilateral defence talks;

e.    Exchange of lessons learned and best practices concerning peacekeeping operations;

f.     Conduct of logistical support in support of mutually agreed bilateral activities;

g.    Activities to enhance and broaden the interaction between their respective military cultures;

h.    Provision of emergency assistance; and any other defence cooperation activities; and

i.      Any other defence related cooperation activities that may be mutually agreed.

Both Ministers acknowledged the port visit of frigate HMNZS Te Kaha to Jakarta, and the visit of KRI BANDA ACEH to attend the Royal New Zealand Navy 75th Anniversary and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Maritime and Counter Terrorism Exercise Mahi Tangaroa.

These visits reinforced the positive bilateral defence relationship, that also includes training and education linkages between Indonesia and New Zealand Armed Forces and regular defence talks between Ministries of Defence.

Ministers also affirmed both Indonesia and New Zealand have a shared interest in the security and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific. Ministers emphasised the importance of regional security architecture, such as ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, for building regional confidence and security cooperation.

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell will travel to Indonesia and Singapore this week to attend a range of meetings on defence and security matters.

Mr Mitchell will visit Indonesia from 30-31 May. While there he will meet his Defence counterpart General (Rtd) Ryamizard Ryacudu.

The two Ministers will sign a joint statement confirming the value both countries place on the bilateral defence relationship. As well as cooperating bilaterally, New Zealand and Indonesia work closely together in regional security groupings.

Mr Mitchell will continue on to Singapore to attend the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) Defence Ministers’ Meeting, and speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue later in the week.

“The FPDA forms our oldest and closest defence agreement in the region. New Zealand is committed to these arrangements, which in a time of regional uncertainty provide leadership and stability,” Mr Mitchell says.

Along with ministers and defence principals from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Kingdom, Mr Mitchell will review the recently-completed FPDA exercise, Bersama Shield.

This exercise was held in Singapore and Malaysian waters and included the New Zealand Defence Force frigate HMNZS Te Kaha, tanker HMNZS Endeavour, a P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, and 283 Defence Force personnel.

At the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Mr Mitchell will have the opportunity to meet with Defence Ministers from across the region and intends to speak about global threats and regional security.

“This speech provides the opportunity to showcase a New Zealand perspective on security issues, and reflect on the role of small states, like ours, in addressing global challenges,” Mr Mitchell says.

New Zealand’s Defence Force will receive a $406 million boost in operating funding over four years and $576 million in capital as part of Budget 2017, says Defence Minister Mark Mitchell.

“It is vital that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has what it needs to meet the country’s security and defence interests. This major increase in funding for the armed services will support a range of NZDF capabilities as identified through the Defence White Paper of 2016,” Mr Mitchell says.

“One of our biggest priorities is ensuring the NZDF has the right people with the right training ready when needed, and this funding will support a range of personnel initiatives.

“It will also go towards a variety of new initiatives and projects in train already, including a cyber security support capability for the protection of NZDF communication networks, a new pilot training capability service, and more funding for our helicopter fleets.”

The capital funding includes:

• $100 million to improve defence camps and bases throughout the country, including facility upgrades in Auckland, Manawatu and Canterbury.
• $301.7 million for the Littoral Operations Support Ship and the Frigate Communications Upgrade.  
• $36.1 million to replace the underwater intelligence, surveillance systems fitted to the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s six P-3K2 Orions.
• $28.2 million for counter-explosive hazard and counter-improvised explosive device capability.
• $110 million to invest in a modern, efficient logistics system that will enable smaller fleets of military equipment to be held and to ensure that equipment is safe.

“Our Defence Force has to be modern and able to operate in a wide range of tasks and environments, both on its own and with our partners,” Mr Mitchell says.

“The ongoing defence and security of New Zealand and the protection of our interests requires significant investment in our Defence Force, and this Budget provides that.”

Budget 2017 will provide an extra $46.9 million of operating funding over the next four years for new services to reduce burglary and youth offending, Justice Minister Amy Adams and Associate Justice Minister Mark Mitchell say.

The funding is part of the Government’s Social Investment Package of $321 million over four years in Budget 2017.

“A new initiative to boost our Government’s efforts to prevent and reduce the number of burglaries will receive $32.9 million,” Ms Adams says.

“We want to reduce the risk of hardworking New Zealanders being burgled. The initiative will target burglars under the age of 25, because this group has a high risk of committing more crime long-term, with a predicted 15,300 more burglaries and other offences over the next 30 years.

“The main focus of the initiative is on reducing the motivation to commit burglary and increasing the availability of reintegration services to better transition offenders from prison back into the community.

“The initiative will also provide support to reduce the risk of a burglary victim being repeatedly targeted by installing additional security such as window locks, security lights or bolt locks,” Ms Adams says.

Mr Mitchell says the $13.9 million over the next four years will help to further reduce youth offending by providing professional youth mentoring, cognitive behavioural therapy and functional family therapy.

“Everyone should be safe in their homes and businesses, and we’re focused on investing in what works to ensure this is the case,” Mr Mitchell says.

“Serious youth offenders are most likely to go on to live a life of crime, so addressing the problems while offenders are young means our communities will be safer now and in the long term.”

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell says New Zealanders can be proud of the achievements of the Defence Force in the fight against Isis.

The fifth rotation of Task Group Taji, the combined New Zealand-Australia training force based in Iraq’s Camp Taji, is on the way to Iraq, and Mr Mitchell says the record shows that New Zealanders can have confidence in the professionalism of Kiwi soldiers and the work they do abroad.

Since their training mission began in May 2015, the task group has trained more than 22,000 Iraqi personnel.

“This is critically important work. By training and partnering with the Iraqi forces, our soldiers have helped turn the tide against Isis,” Mr Mitchell says.

“The professional training delivered by the combined New Zealand-Australia training force has built the capability of the Iraqi Security Forces in the fight against Isis. It has created a growing pool of capable fighters who are helping the Iraqi military sustain their campaign against this terrorist group.

“The rotation about to take over in Taji will build on the successes of the New Zealanders and Australians on the mission in the past two years, and make a real contribution to ongoing local security and stability.

“We’re a highly regarded part of the Coalition to defeat ISIS, and I’m certain this latest rotation will build on that reputation.”

Associate Minister of Justice Mark Mitchell travels to Melbourne today to attend the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council (LCCSC).

The LCCSC is a joint-ministerial council which helps maintain an Australian and Trans-Tasman focus on fighting crime and promoting best practice in law, criminal justice and community safety.

“I am looking forward to meeting my Australian counterparts and discussing ways we can collaborate on issues of real importance like family violence, cyber-bullying, and cyber-crime,” Mr Mitchell says.

“This meeting provides a forum to discuss the justice issues both nations face, and allows us to share ideas and learn from the experiences of other jurisdictions that are working hard to keep their communities safe.”

The LCCSC is made up of around 17 Attorneys General and Ministers from across law and order and emergency management portfolios from New Zealand and all Australian jurisdictions. It meets twice a year.

Defence Minister Mark Mitchell will tomorrow travel to Copenhagen to attend the Defeat-ISIS Defence Ministerial Meeting.

The meeting will be on 9 May and is Mr Mitchell’s first international engagement as Defence Minister.

“The fight against ISIS, also known as Daesh, is going well and the global coalition has won significant territory back and continues to degrade Daesh's capability. However, Daesh continue to pose a significant threat to international security and we must continue to work together,” Mr Mitchell says.

“The meeting will include partners who want to end the fight with Daesh and combat violent extremism, and discussions will focus on continued progress in the fight and the next steps going forward.

“It is an excellent opportunity for me to engage with other leaders from around the world and show that New Zealand’s support to the coalition remains firm.

“I travelled to Iraq in April last year and saw first-hand the excellent work our forces were doing to train the Iraqis for their operations against Daesh.”

New Zealand contributes 106 troops to the Building Partner Capacity mission in Taji which, alongside the Australians, provides training to units of the Iraqi Security Forces.

Mr Mitchell will also undertake his first visit as Defence Minister to a defence base in Whenuapai today.

He will visit RNZAF Base Auckland where he will meet personnel and visit a number of units, as well as receive briefings on Royal New Zealand Air Force operations and capabilities.

“I spent my early years living on Whenuapai Air Force Base where my father was a Flight Lieutenant, so it is a privilege to return as the Defence Minister,” Mr Mitchell says.

Land Information Minister Mark Mitchell says a new hydrographic plan will help deliver benefits to New Zealand’s shipping and fishing industries, tourist operators, and marine scientists.

“Today Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) released its HYPLAN, which sets out areas around the country where it will carry out surveys of the sea floor over the next five to ten years,” Mr Mitchell says.

“LINZ will use the latest technology to map the sea floor and update vital information such as nautical charts.

“The plan supports professional skippers and recreational boaties by giving them access to the latest and most accurate navigation information.

“The data collected will also be made available to marine science institutions and environmental management organisations to support the work they do.”

The plan prioritises areas where the latest navigation information will be most beneficial.

“One of the biggest priority areas is from Kaikoura to Port Underwood. Last year’s earthquake had a big impact both above and below water, so it’s important we assess the local sea floor,” Mr Mitchell says.

“Fiordland, Eastern Bay of Plenty, and the East Cape are also high on the priority list due in part to the increasing flow of cruise ships in those areas.”

For these priority areas, work is planned to start later this year, and LINZ will soon go out to the market to find a survey company to carry this out.

Other priority areas include Bluff and Stewart Island, Approaches to Port Taranaki, Banks Peninsula, and the Coromandel, with LINZ set to continually review these areas so it can adjust if the needs of a region change.

To read the HYPLAN priorities for surveys, visit the LINZ website at http://www.linz.govt.nz/sea/charts/annual-work-programme

Two Bills that modernise electoral law have passed through Parliament and will be implemented before this year’s election, Associate Justice Minister Mark Mitchell says.

“The Electoral Amendment Bill and the Broadcasting (Election Programmes and Election Advertising) Amendment Bill will help make the election process more efficient and fit for purpose,” Mr Mitchell says.

The Bills respond to recommendations made in a review by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee carried out after every election, and were heard together in Parliament as they are closely related.

“It is important New Zealand continues to have a fair and modern electoral system, and these Bills help simplify the election rules well in advance of this year’s election.

“The Electoral Amendment Bill makes a wide range of changes that will collectively improve services to voters, candidates, and parties.

“For example, the Electoral Commission can now begin counting advance votes earlier on election day, and will be able to send information to voters via email in addition to post.

“The changes also increase accountability in the way political parties use their funding. They now have to file an audited return of how their Broadcasting Act allocation was spent, just as they do for their other election expenses,” Mr Mitchell says.

The Broadcasting Amendment Bill modernises party election broadcasting rules by removing the requirement for parties to provide opening and closing addresses on television and radio, and allowing them to use their Broadcasting Act funding to advertise on the internet.

“Updating the election rules helps ensure parties are clear on their responsibilities and supports a smooth delivery of the election.”

Statistics Minister Mark Mitchell has welcomed the transfer of the Government’s open data programme to Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ), saying it will help boost the Government’s commitment to providing better and more freely available information.

“Stats NZ leads data analytics across Government, and as part of this has been tasked with managing the Open Data New Zealand programme,” Mr Mitchell says.

The programme was previously headed by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and is designed to help agencies make more information openly available.

“This will help improve decision-making across agencies and support the Government’s commitment to invest in better and more efficient public services.

“LINZ set a solid foundation and made great progress in encouraging Government agencies, Crown organisations, and local authorities to make their data more freely available.

“However, Stats NZ is a world-leader in data and analytics, and is best-placed to drive forward with the programme.

“It has expertise in maximising the value we get from data, and will continue working with agencies to raise awareness and increase transparency around their data use,” Mr Mitchell says.

Open Data NZ is also designed to strengthen New Zealand’s private sector and support our communities.

“Access to high-value, non-personal data in the most useful and usable formats helps businesses, families, and individuals make more informed decisions such as where to start a business or where to buy a house.”