Drones among NZ-made tech to aid Defence Force, Judith Collins says

Defence Minister Judith Collins says it makes sense for the armed forces to tap more into the local high technology industry to counter growing threats.

The Defence Force (NZDF) has been making moves this year to link more strongly with high-tech companies, in line with a push by militaries globally to acquire much more "emerging technology".

Collins told Corin Dann on Morning Report on Thursday this was a sensible way for the country to prepare for future threats.

"We should certainly make use of the fact we have some great tech going on here, particularly around things like surveillance but also around drones," she said.

Was making lethal tech on the table?

"Well, of course, when someone is trying to take you out, in terms of a country, you need to be able to defend yourself."

New Zealand's allies the US, UK and Australia have begun developing and sharing more advanced defence technology under the Aukus pact.

But Collins, asked if New Zealand could get the defence tech it needed and not be in Aukus Pillar Two, said, "Well, of course, and that's what we are doing.

"This has always been about tech.

"Defence has not been about looking to the past. It's always about what might be on the horizon, what might be a future threat.

"If we sat around and said let's just have the cavalry out there, I mean, you would be laughing at us."

The latest official briefings say New Zealand is still exploring joining Pillar Two but needed a "clear picture of specific technology areas".

There are eight general areas, including quantum computing, autonomous systems (which NZDF has been buying more of) and hypersonics.

Collins said wonderful work was going on at NZDF's Science and Technology unit (DST), and among private local tech companies, to be able to "properly surveil, to deal with issues like what's going on in Ukraine at the moment".

DST is at the forefront of exploring joining Pillar Two, papers show.

Asked if China was the biggest threat, as is indicated in internal official briefings to ministers, Collins said everyone in defence and the Pacific was very aware that after Beijing's launch of an intercontinental missile into the Pacific recently, "things have changed unfortunately".

"We believe that we've just got to do our part and make sure that we protect New Zealand."

One high-tech addition no longer in the government's scope, though it was up until a few months ago, is a rocket launchpad south of Christchurch.

Collins has ruled out subsidising any vertical rocket launches from the fledgling Tāwhaki aerospace centre at Kaitorete Spit, to focus instead on the horizontal launches off its new runway that advanced aircraft like drones can use.

Earlier official studies said vertical launchpads could be viable, including for military or dual-use launches - and there remains the option of private investment going towards that - but Collins told RNZ: "When you are talking about vertical launches as opposed to horizontal launches, that requires an enormous amount of money.

"We don't actually have spare money.

"But also, you need to have customers. Because this is not a Kevin Costner movie - we can't just build it and hope that they're going to come."

However, Tāwhaki said talks with potential partners for vertical launch were carrying on, and the aerospace industry said it new of customer interest here and overseas, if facilities were built. Tāwhaki earlier in the year alluded to being a "white elephant" if it did not get launchpads.

Collins noted New Zealand was among the world's busiest rocket launch sites anyway.

However, these all rely on Rocket Lab's private and exclusive launchpad at Māhia.