New Zealand’s defense minister, Peeni Henare, has had a very busy first half of the year.
In January, Henare was the face of New Zealand’s relief effort to Tonga, following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano.
Then, from March onwards, Henare was often involved in Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcements of military support for Ukraine. The Government initially decided to supply only defensive (or “non-lethal”) equipment to Kyiv, which took the form of body armor, helmets, and vests. Cabinet initially declined a request by Henare for New Zealand to also supply “lethal aid” weaponry to Ukraine – but that decision was suddenly reversed in early April.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, tensions between China and the West have also escalated in the Indo-Pacific. The increased focus on “hard security” in New Zealand’s neighborhood has only strengthened Henare’s role further.
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The defense minister’s first trip outside New Zealand was to Fiji in late March. The outcome was a “Statement of Intent” pledging stronger defense ties between Suva and Wellington. A week later, New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta herself travelled to Fiji to sign a broader zealand defense minister visiting south korea
