Aust, NZ move closer to AUKUS partnership after talks

Talks between Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Senator Penny Wong and Kiwi counterparts Judith Collins and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, centred on enhancing security.

"We have committed to working much more closely together in terms of defence operations to give effect to deterrence ... and building interoperability and interchangeability between our two defence forces," Mr Marles said.

The joint communique said the meeting took place in the "most challenging strategic environment in decades", a reference to wars in Ukraine, Gaza and a more assertive China.

Mr Peters said the deteriorating geopolitical conditions required diplomacy of a "greater maturity, greater intensity than I remember in my time".

Deputy PM/ MFA & I arriving in Melbourne. Many thanks to our Defence Air crew for a lovely flight. #Defence#MFaT ⁦— Judith Collins (@JudithCollinsMP) @NewZealandMFA⁩ pic.twitter.com/y4PxfZfV2DJanuary 31, 2024

In essence, the security environment is driving New Zealand to be closer with its traditional ally, Australia.

That will include detailed discussions on joining AUKUS, Australia's deal with the US and the UK to obtain nuclear-powered submarines.

New Zealand's hand is up to join pillar two of the pact, which centres on advanced technology sharing, including artificial intelligence and cyber warfare, and military interoperability.

Mr Marles said an Australian team would "very shortly" travel to New Zealand to brief the Kiwis on the tie-up.

Ms Collins said "increased strategic competition and challenges" meant "increasingly, the rules-based order which we rely on as democratic countries is under threat".

"in that context, there has never been a more important time to work with close friends," he said.

Judith Collins, Richard Marles, Winston Peters and Penny Wong met in Melbourne. (Ben McKay/AAP PHOTOS)

Thursday's meeting confirms moves by Chris Luxon's government to position New Zealand more closely alongside traditional allies in Canberra and Washington DC.

Last month, New Zealand responded to a US request, deploying six Kiwi defence personnel to help counter Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.

University of Waikato senior lecturer Reuben Steff told AAP New Zealand's positioning was understandable, but might cause ripples in Beijing.

"This is logical given shared liberal democratic values and the vital security interest they all have in upholding and defending the rules-based international order."

"This may concern China given it has praised New Zealand for its 'strategic autonomy', but in a deteriorating strategic environment Wellington needs to make long-term calculations that maximise its interests."

In recent years, New Zealand has at times been criticised by security analysts for being too close to China.

New Zealand has enjoyed economic benefits from a trailblazing free trade pact in 2008.

Ms Collins rebuffed suggestions New Zealand had been too close to China, or was naive to the superpower's threat.

"Just because we don't say things, doesn't mean to say we don't know things. And just because we're quiet, doesn't mean to say we're stupid," she said.

"We're very aware of the changing geopolitical times in the world.

"China has been a good economic friend to us ... we just have to always be alive to stuff."

New Zealand's growing interest in AUKUS  has drawn detractors at home, in part due to Kiwis' strong opposition to nuclear power and weapons.

Now in opposition, the NZ Labour party is unclear on whether it will back a move to join up to AUKUS pillar two.

"We think its important to not to position China as a foe," Labour foreign spokesman David Parker said.