Mission
The mission for the New Zealand Defence Force is "to secure New Zealand against external threat, to protect our sovereign interests, including the Exclusive Economic Zone, and to take action to meet likely contingencies in New Zealand’s area of strategic interest".
The Defence Force has the task of delivering capabilities that meet the objectives of the New Zealand government’s 'Defence Policy Framework' (June 2000).
Priorities
Priorities for change within Defence are included in the government’s Defence Statement - a "Modern Sustainable Defence Force Matched to New Zealand’s Needs" (May 2001). This has been further enhanced through Government decisions aimed at achieving a joint Defence Force focusing on single Services and joint interaction with the Ministry of Defence.
Priorities for the acquiring Defence equipment are contained in the Defence Long-Term Development Plan (Update June 2003) and set a path for developing the capabilities of the Navy, Army and Air Force.
Public Documents