Aspen-Otago National Security Forum 2025 brings together leaders from New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and the US to discuss shared security challenges.

Queenstown this weekend hosted senior leaders, experts, and policymakers from across New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and the United States for the Aspen-Otago National Security Forum 2025 - a joint initiative between the Aspen Institute New Zealand, the University of Otago - Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

The Forum explored a range of themes, including the New Zealand - Australia security partnership, the impact of shifting global geopolitics, and the role of our continued alliance in navigating complex regional challenges.

Held under the Chatham House Rule, the discussions encouraged open exchange between participants, highlighting the importance of collaboration, trust, and informed leadership in addressing the security issues shaping our region.

Andrew Hampton, Director-General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, noted that New Zealand’s national security is increasingly tied to global trends, and that facing these shared threats requires collective responsibility at every level of society.

"New Zealand’s geographic location provides us little protection from national security threats whether it be from violent extremism, foreign interference, espionage or cyber-attacks. Responding to these challenges require an all of society response. The conference provided an excellent opportunity for national security professionals, academics and private sector representatives to share perspectives on these threats and discuss how best to build resilience. A particular strength of this year’s forum was the Trans-Tasman theme which reinforced the need for ongoing collaboration given our shared threat environment."

Chris Taylor, Head of the Statecraft and Intelligence Centre at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the Forum provided a timely platform for regional dialogue:

“In a strategic environment increasingly fragmented, and in which threats and pressures are coalescing, the Australia–New Zealand relationship remains a source of real, mutual strength. The Aspen-Otago National Security Forum reflects that strength but also reinforces it through a candid exchange of assessments and perspectives, and a focus on how we can most effectively work together and in the future.”

University of Otago lecturer in international security and Forum Co-Director Peter Grace said the event built on a desire to foster better understanding of national security issues and processes:

“There’s a need to demystify national security because we all have a role to play. Part of that is understanding how threats are identified and what processes are involved in evaluating them. This is the first time we have offered a public forum component to the conference and something we intend to expand upon."

Dr Elizabeth Buchanan, Senior Fellow at ASPI, said the conversations also served as a reminder of public agency in facing complex issues:

“We need to give society agency - to remind Australians and New Zealanders that we are innovative countries. We’re scrappy and smart, and we have the ability to come up with the solutions to the challenges we face.”

Aspen Institute New Zealand CEO Christine Maiden Sharp says the Forum underscores the importance of open, non-partisan dialogue and cross-sector collaboration:

“These conversations strengthen connections across countries and sectors, ensuring New Zealand remains a pro-active and relevant contributor to regional and global security, even as hard power plays an increasingly dominant role.”

Plans for future iterations of the Forum are already underway, building on the partnership between Aspen NZ and the University of Otago to create an annual platform for dialogue.

The Aspen-Otago National Security Forum 2025 was supported by headline sponsor PwC New Zealand, whose commitment to building trust in society and solving important problems helps enable conversations of this kind.

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