Webinar: Worth Defending: The case for a stronger New Zealand Defence Force
"No one is going to attack us." It's a line many New Zealanders have heard, or said themselves. But our prosperity depends on what happens far beyond our shores, from open sea lanes to a stable Pacific. So what role should our defence force actually play in protecting those interests?
Join Dr Oliver Hartwich and Major General (Ret) John Howard, MNZM, for the launch of John's new report Worth Defending: Freedom, Prosperity and the Case for a Stronger New Zealand Defence Force on why New Zealand needs a credible, combat-capable defence force.
Drawing on 40 years of military service, including senior roles in defence intelligence, John will discuss how military capability supports our economy and our standing in the world. What should a country our size be able to do? How much can we rely on our partners, and what should they expect from us in return?
The conversation will also cover New Zealand's plans to rebuild its defence capabilities, and what we can learn from other small nations facing similar questions.
Stick around for the live Q&A and put your questions to John directly.
Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Time: 3:00 pm
Registration: Please register for the webinar via this link
Q&A: Submit your question in advance on Slido.com here using code #3004306
About the speakers:
Major General (Ret) John G. Howard, MNZM, Senior Fellow, The New Zealand Initiative
John Howard is a Senior Fellow of The New Zealand Initiative and Managing Director of The Source Consultancy. He served more than four decades in the New Zealand Defence Force, including as the first-ever Chief of Defence Intelligence. While posted to the US Defense Intelligence Agency, he was the only non-American to serve as an executive officer across all 18 United States intelligence agencies.
Dr Oliver Hartwich - Executive Director, The New Zealand Initiative
Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. Oliver holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration and a PhD in Law from Bochum University in Germany.