The Strategic Commitments and Intelligence Branch (SCI) is comprised of two Directorates, the Directorate of Strategic Commitments (DSC) and the Directorate of Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), and coordinates the Mutual Assistance Programme, the NZDF’s contribution to regional security.
Directorate of Strategic Commitments
The role of the Directorate of Strategic Commitments (DSC) is:
- to be a key coordination point, together with International Defence Relationships Branch (IDR), for the provision of policy advice and support to government, so that the government is able to respond effectively to both programmed and unforecast activities and events. DSC and IDR are CDF’s lead agencies for inter-departmental liaison and cooperation.
- to provide strategic planning, oversight and management of all NZDF operations, activities, exercises and training; both domestic and international.
- to act as the NZDF’s primary portal and information point for the processing of external activity requests that do not naturally reside within other directorates, branches, or agencies of the NZDF, and which fall outside the normal purview of the Office of the CDF.
- foreign and NZDF Adviser/Attaché coordination, administration and protocol matters.
NZDF Defence Advisers/Attachés
NZDF Defence Advisers/Attachés are based in New Zealand High Commissions/Embassies in:
- Canberra
- London (also accredited to Ireland, France, Italy, Belgium and Germany)
- Washington
- Ottawa
- Suva (also accredited to Tonga and Samoa)
- Port Moresby (also accredited to Vanuatu and Solomon Islands)
- Singapore
- Kuala Lumpur (also accredited to Brunei)
- Jakarta (also accredited to Timor-Leste)
- Manila
- Bangkok (also accredited to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam)
- Seoul
- Beijing
- Tokyo
The Defence Adviser Pacific, who is resident in Wellington, is accredited to the Cook Islands and Niue.
The NZDF also has a Military Adviser within the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
Directorate of Defence Intelligence and Security
The Director of Defence Intelligence and Security is responsible for:
- providing source military intelligence to the CDF, Service Chiefs of Staff and operational commanders
- providing security policy and services necessary for the protection of personnel, resources and facilities
- the coordination of security for accredited New Zealand defence-related industries
- policy direction and administration of the Defence Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP).
Mutual Assistance Programme
The Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) is an integral part of New Zealand's contribution to regional security.
MAP participants are Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Cook Islands in the South Pacific, and Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Brunei in South-East Asia. Although a formal programme does not exist with Niue, MAP assistance is provided on occasions.