Originally published 3 March 2021

This week, Veerle is joined by Professor David Capie, Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies and Professor of International Relations at Victoria University in Wellington.

Given the strong policy focus on the Indo-Pacific by Australia, it may be surprising that New Zealand’s strategic thinking is still in flux. This week, David explains what the push and pull factors have been for New Zealand in looking afresh at what the Indo-Pacific means to the country and how it can balance interests in the wider region with its immediate policy priorities in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

While New Zealand’s traditional focus in the Asia-Pacific has been on trade and economic relations, it is increasingly starting to think more critically about potential geopolitical and security challenges. For a country limited in resources and geographically a long way from fellow Indo-Pacific countries, creative partnerships will be the way forward to take advantage of the opportunities in the region and address the challenges that lie ahead.