Industry, academics not yet consulted on AUKUS Pillar Two

Defence officials say they have not consulted with industry and academics about participating in AUKUS Pillar Two.

For months, government briefings and statements have talked about New Zealand exploring joining Pillar Two, an international pact for sharing advanced military technology.

In May, Defence and MFAT said in a briefing they were engaging with local industry and academics.

This was "to ascertain the relevance and alignment of their work with Pillar II areas and their level of interest in participating in Pillar II work", the briefing said.

But in a new OIA response, the defence ministry said this had not happened.

"No formal consultation has occurred to date.

"The ministry ... is in the early stages of information-gathering to consider any options for how New Zealand might contribute to Aukus Pillar II," it said.

Further details about this consideration were withheld.

In May, the officials had said they had "begun to identify parts of the New Zealand system which demonstrate potential to form part of a Pillar Two contribution."

There were "potential openings for collaboration with the New Zealand defence industry and adjacent technology companies" and "areas where New Zealand may have relevant niche expertise".

Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has said the consultation is "a continuation of New Zealand's careful, deliberate exploration under successive governments of what engaging" in the arrangement would mean economically and strategically.