Centre for Strategic Studies New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand (CSS:NZ) is an international and military affairs research (strategic studies
) centre located in Wellington, New Zealand
. Formerly jointly supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence
, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
, and Victoria University of Wellington
, it is now a part of Victoria University's School of Government.
, was appointed as Director when the Centre was first established. David Dickens
, the former Deputy Director, took over when Mr O'Brien's term finished in 2000, and he was in his turn succeeded by Peter Cozens
, who had been and is the Centre's Administrator dealing with Council for Security and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP) matters.
in Geneva
, the European Commission in Brussels, and the United Nations
in New York
. From 1993-2000 when O'Brien was the Executive Director the Centre was most active. The Centre managed to retain a reputation for independent advice not linked to the policies of major New Zealand
political parties. The Centre put out a number of publications and thought pieces related to New Zealand security and defence issues. The second Director was David Dickens
and the third Peter Cozens
.
F-16 fighter jets for a cost of up to Nz$640 million dollars in contrast to Dickens who was in full support. It was O'Brien's opinion that the planes served no useful purpose, that the only country that they could reach and attack from bases in New Zealand would be Australia and that the planes were costly and inappropriate for New Zealand given its defence circumstances. Funds could be better spent on upgrading New Zealand's peacekeeping capabilities and purchasing more other aircraft such as the C-130J Super Hercules. Dickens had a different opinion.
New Zealand Defence Minister Max Bradford
was aghast at the Centre's decision to criticize the F-16 purchase decision and ensured that O'Brien's contract was not extended. There was a Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry which probed into the failure to renew the contract of Terence O'Brien and the outcome of the enquiry found that there was wrongdoing. David Dickens was promoted to Director. But Dickens did not last long. When the New Zealand Labour Party
came to power in 1999, Prime Minister Helen Clark
quickly moved to cancel the order of the F-16 fighters due to concerns over cost and suitability. New Zealand lost its air combat force and, in what appears to be a second episode of political interference, the Centre lost Dickens who was promptly fired. Soon after O'Brien was back as an affiliate to the Centre along with a handful of Victoria University professors and other political commentators and security experts.
. As the Centre is now under the wing of Victoria University's Institute of Policy Studies, itself part of the School of Government, Peter Cozens
took the title of Executive Director. Apart from the director, the Centre has at various times included a Deputy Director, research fellows from the People's Republic of China
and Japan
, research associates and assistants, administrators, and support staff.
Strategic studies
Strategic studies is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to topics concerning the relationship between politics, geography and natural resources, economics, and military power, such as the role of intelligence, diplomacy and threats in the preparation and use of force...
) centre located in Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Formerly jointly supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence is the arm of the New Zealand Government charged with providing advice on defence matters, as well as providing civilian administration and oversight over the New Zealand Defence Force....
, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the New Zealand Government ministry responsible for promoting New Zealand's interests in trade and international relations....
, and Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, it is now a part of Victoria University's School of Government.
History
Established in 1993 following a perceived need to examine NZ's international relations and situation more closely, the Centre has had three directors. Terence O'Brien, a former New Zealand diplomat who had chaired the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
, was appointed as Director when the Centre was first established. David Dickens
David Dickens
David Dickens is a former New Zealand defence strategist. He was deputy director and then director of the Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand.-Background:...
, the former Deputy Director, took over when Mr O'Brien's term finished in 2000, and he was in his turn succeeded by Peter Cozens
Peter Cozens
Peter Cozens was the Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies New Zealand until 2009. The Centre is part of the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington. As Director, Cozens promoted and contributes to research and discussion of New Zealand's strategic security...
, who had been and is the Centre's Administrator dealing with Council for Security and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP) matters.
Directors
The Centre has had three Directors. The first Director of the Centre, Terence O'Brien was a former New Zealand diplomat with a career as New Zealand Ambassador to the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, the European Commission in Brussels, and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. From 1993-2000 when O'Brien was the Executive Director the Centre was most active. The Centre managed to retain a reputation for independent advice not linked to the policies of major New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
political parties. The Centre put out a number of publications and thought pieces related to New Zealand security and defence issues. The second Director was David Dickens
David Dickens
David Dickens is a former New Zealand defence strategist. He was deputy director and then director of the Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand.-Background:...
and the third Peter Cozens
Peter Cozens
Peter Cozens was the Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies New Zealand until 2009. The Centre is part of the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington. As Director, Cozens promoted and contributes to research and discussion of New Zealand's strategic security...
.
F-16 Controversy
The failure to renew O'Brien's contract in 2000 was seen by some as politically motivated. O'Brien had been very critical of the New Zealand National Government's decision to lease and potentially purchase 28 United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
F-16 fighter jets for a cost of up to Nz$640 million dollars in contrast to Dickens who was in full support. It was O'Brien's opinion that the planes served no useful purpose, that the only country that they could reach and attack from bases in New Zealand would be Australia and that the planes were costly and inappropriate for New Zealand given its defence circumstances. Funds could be better spent on upgrading New Zealand's peacekeeping capabilities and purchasing more other aircraft such as the C-130J Super Hercules. Dickens had a different opinion.
New Zealand Defence Minister Max Bradford
Max Bradford
Maxwell Robert Bradford is a former New Zealand politician and Cabinet Minister. He was an MP for the National Party from 1990 to 2002, and is known for introducing reforms to the electricity industry in 1998.-Early life:...
was aghast at the Centre's decision to criticize the F-16 purchase decision and ensured that O'Brien's contract was not extended. There was a Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry which probed into the failure to renew the contract of Terence O'Brien and the outcome of the enquiry found that there was wrongdoing. David Dickens was promoted to Director. But Dickens did not last long. When the New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
came to power in 1999, Prime Minister Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
quickly moved to cancel the order of the F-16 fighters due to concerns over cost and suitability. New Zealand lost its air combat force and, in what appears to be a second episode of political interference, the Centre lost Dickens who was promptly fired. Soon after O'Brien was back as an affiliate to the Centre along with a handful of Victoria University professors and other political commentators and security experts.
Current operations
The Centre now operates on a more low key basis managed by the former operations manager Peter CozensPeter Cozens
Peter Cozens was the Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies New Zealand until 2009. The Centre is part of the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington. As Director, Cozens promoted and contributes to research and discussion of New Zealand's strategic security...
. As the Centre is now under the wing of Victoria University's Institute of Policy Studies, itself part of the School of Government, Peter Cozens
Peter Cozens
Peter Cozens was the Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies New Zealand until 2009. The Centre is part of the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington. As Director, Cozens promoted and contributes to research and discussion of New Zealand's strategic security...
took the title of Executive Director. Apart from the director, the Centre has at various times included a Deputy Director, research fellows from the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, research associates and assistants, administrators, and support staff.