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Recent government documents provide fresh insight into New Zealand’s deliberations over AUKUS Pillar Two, the technology-focused arm of the trilateral pact.
The records, spanning from 2021 to 2023, show a series of internal discussions and meetings as the country weighed the potential benefits of participation against the need to uphold its independent foreign policy.
Understanding AUKUS and New Zealand’s Initial Reaction
When AUKUS was announced in 2021, it quickly emerged as a strategic response to shifting power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
Its second pillar, focused on advanced military technologies like AI, cybersecurity, and hypersonics, deliberately avoids nuclear capabilities, a feature that aligns with New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy.
While initially distancing itself from the pact’s nuclear-powered submarine component, New Zealand signalled a growing openness to cooperating on non-nuclear technologies that align with its broader defence interests.
Chronology of Engagement
New Zealand’s engagement with AUKUS Pillar Two evolved from initial scepticism to cautious consideration over the course of 2021 to 2023.
The government began receiving briefings from Australian officials shortly after the announcement, with discussions around areas like cyber resilience gaining momentum in 2022.
Nanaia Mahuta, then-Foreign Minister, and Andrew Little, then-Defence Minister, met with their Australian counterparts on 9 March 2023, where they made it clear that New Zealand’s “nuclear-free policy remains intact” and indicated their “openness to exploring further non-nuclear collaboration under Pillar Two of AUKUS.”
Balancing Security and Sovereignty
The government has faced an internal divide over how far to engage with the US, UK, and Australia on non-nuclear initiatives in the ongoing discussions about New Zealand’s role in AUKUS Pillar Two.
While some argue that closer ties could enhance military and intelligence capabilities, others caution that such a move could undermine New Zealand’s nuclear-free identity and independent foreign policy.
What’s Next for New Zealand
The government confirmed on 2 August 2024 that New Zealand’s participation in AUKUS Pillar Two is contingent upon agreement from all involved parties. “There are two key conditions: first, an invitation; second, New Zealand’s decision to join. New Zealanders will be kept informed throughout the process. Our foreign policy is always shaped by the security and well-being of our people.”