Threats/Risks to New Zealand
Like other maritime nations the threats and risks that New Zealand faces include use of the sea by those who engage in activities such as: piracy, transnational crime, unauthorised maritime arrivals, illegal exploitation of natural resources, illegal activity in protected areas, prohibited imports and exports, compromises to biosecurity, marine pollution, and maritime terrorism.
More generally, maritime interests closer to New Zealand include maintaining good order at sea to protect our border, secure the sea lines of communication, manage our natural resources, and protect our offshore infrastructure such as oil and gas installations and undersea telecommunications links.
Some risks are increasing, particularly those involving transnational organised crime, and those linked to increasing world demand for food and other resources. It is this latter issue that poses the most immediate future threat as the poor state of fishing stocks in the northern hemisphere is seeing a displacement of effort into southern hemisphere fisheries with the consequential pressure on our fish stocks in terms of sustainability.
This is evidenced by the growing number of foreign flagged vessels fishing in the high seas around New Zealand and in the fisheries of the Te Vaka Moana countries (Tonga, Niue, Tokelau, Samoa and Cook Islands). The fisheries in the region are a cornerstone for the economies of these countries and any collapse of those fisheries could potentially lead to economic and/or political instability.
The increased number of foreign flagged fishing vessels in our exclusive economic zone has resulted in a number of instances of illegal, unregulated or unreported (IUU) fishing activity in the past 12 months and this threat is expected to increase. Similarly, IUU fishing activity throughout the Pacific region is increasing and recent patrols (by air) have noticed a disturbing trend of vessels operating with all identifying features removed.
IUU fishing activity is also on the increase in the Southern Ocean and in some cases the vessels operating in this area are using fishing methods that have been banned, for example, those methods that result in significant by-catch of sea birds. As noted above, marine pollution events always strike a chord with the general public.
As this audience knows well, the risk of collision or grounding at sea is always present, especially when operating in congested waterways or in close proximity to navigational hazards. These risks are mitigated through good seamanship, well-charted shipping lanes and the use of modern navigation systems. Notwithstanding, on 5 October 2011, the container ship Rena ran aground on a well-chartered reef off one of New Zealand’s busiest ports.
For months, contractors have worked tirelessly to remove fuel oil and offload containers; however, weather conditions in January 2012 did not help and as we saw in the media a few weeks ago, Rena has split in two and remains a major environmental hazard to New Zealand’s coastal waters.
With respect to potential risks or threats to New Zealand, the issue that is at the forefront of senior security sector officials’ minds at the moment is the mass arrival by sea of illegal immigrants. Over a number of years, information is indicating that as well as Australia and Canada, New Zealand is a target destination for those asylum seekers who are willing and able to circumvent the system and pay people-smugglers to transport them to a third country to attempt to fast-track their bid to immigrate.
While I acknowledge that the Australian policy in this area in a state of flux, depending on the outcome of that policy debate and in the face of the hazards that a long open-ocean transit would involve, the risk of New Zealand becoming a destination for asylum seekers is likely to increase. The arrival of the Sri Lankan asylum-seeker vessel MV Sun Sea in British Colombia, Canada in 2010 is an example of the distances and risks that people-smugglers and potential illegal immigrants are prepared to take.
The NZ Customs Service is responsible for the operational execution of any plans to intercept board and escort any arrival to a holding area. Immigration maintains the policy lead and the processing of arrivals.
Our plans are well tested and rehearsed but like any plan it relies on the competencies of all parties and the reality that no plan survives beyond H Hour.
