NZDF, ADF shake hands on trans-Tasman cyber agreement

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the Department of Defence of Australia (ADOD) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost NZDF and Australian Defence Force (ADF) collaboration in the cyber domain.

Under the agreement, our ally Australia will provide New Zealand with enhanced technical support and access to the Persistent Cyber Training Environment – Unclassified (PCTE-U), a US Department of Defense-developed platform that delivers cutting-edge, realistic cyber training and exercise design. 

The MoU also increases the NZDF’s capacity to create and share cyber simulation training content, a mutual benefit to both the ADOD and NZDF, strengthening regional cooperation in cyber training across the Pacific.

Group Captain Paul Drysdale, Director Information & Cyberspace Operations, says the training derived by using the Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE), alongside the ADF, strengthens the nations’ collective cyber readiness.

“It enhances our ability to detect, respond to, and recover from real world cyber threats across the Pacific, ensuring the NZDF remains a trusted and capable partner.

“The platform scales easily to meet the NZDF’s changing needs—whether we are preparing small specialist teams or larger joint forces.”

ADF’s Director Joint Cyber and Influence Projects in the Space and Cyber Capability Division Captain Robert Smilie says the MoU is a timely and practical step.

“Cyber threats are real and immediate – targeting military networks, critical infrastructure and national resilience every day. By formalising the New Zealand Defence Force’s access to PCTE-U, we’re lifting regional preparedness, accelerating content sharing and building interoperable teams ready for the fight now.”

The MoU locks in a dedicated share of Australia’s PCTE resources for the NZDF and sets out the operational, security and administrative framework for its use, with potential to expand access under existing arrangements.

Both nations stand to benefit. New Zealand gains greater capacity to build and share high-quality cyber training content, while both forces strengthen cyber warfare development on a common platform – deepening the long-standing Anzac bond in a new domain.