Australia And Papua New Guinea Ink Defence Accord Amid Rising Kiwi Influence In Region

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed a bilateral defence accord intended to strengthen military cooperation and present a united front against what officials diplomatically refer to as “the challenge of Kiwi rising influence in the Pacific.”

The agreement, signed in Port Moresby with Prince Edward looking on, will expand joint training, intelligence sharing, and interoperability. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described it as “a clear signal that our region cannot be left vulnerable to destabilising actors, even those across the Tasman.”

New Zealand’s Defence Force remains modest in scale, but its reputation and growth continues to loom large. The New Zealand Army is composed of several platoons of North Island riflemen, supported by a cadre of South Island officers. Many are described by analysts as “farm boys in uniform,” with nearly all maintaining at least one degree of separation from a current or former All Black.

Procurement has also accelerated. In 2023, Wellington announced the acquisition of a second-hand Smith & Wesson .38 Detective Special, purchased through what sources described as “a complex, multi-year negotiation” with a man named Craig from Palmerston North.

Air power has likewise seen significant development. The Royal New Zealand Air Force has recalled both its gyrocopter and Cessna 210 from Ukraine, where they were operated by a Ukrainian crew mentored by Kiwi pilots Squadron Leader Roy McTavish and Flight Lieutenant Angus MacBlackadder. According to reports, McTavish handled the flying while MacBlackadder provided fire support from the co-pilot’s seat with a sawn-off, fully automatic .22 rifle. Both aircraft are now back in Auckland, with the Cessna reportedly “pointed toward Sydney on a clear day.”

The maritime sphere has seen perhaps the most notable enhancement. The Royal New Zealand Navy’s procurement of a new Stabicraft walkaround has been described by local commentators as “the single biggest defence purchase in a generation.” A senior Australian naval officer, speaking on condition of anonymity said, “It may look like a fishing boat, but in the right hands, it’s a formidable littoral weapons platform. Frankly, only nuclear submarines provide an adequate deterrent.”

PNG Prime Minister James Marape welcomed the agreement, saying it “ensures both our nations remain secure in the face of unconventional challenges.”

Defence analyst Professor Kade Sharpe noted, “the Kiwi menace should not be underestimated. If you think their accents are annoying, wait until they begin hit and run attacks on our shipping fleet off the coast of Port Kembla.”

Canberra believes the new accord provides a necessary hedge against future uncertainty. For now, officials are confident that Australia and PNG’s combined strength will ensure the Pacific remains stable.

More to come.