Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of New Zealand's sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the peculiarities of New Zealand's sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 85.7

New Zealand is a founding member of the United Nations (1945). The Commonwealth of Nations, WTO, OECD, FATF, as well as the ASEAN+6 and APEC regional organizations and The Island Forum Pacific Ocean.

The country maintains an active military and the legal system New Zealand is traditionally dualistic – international treaties are not valid until they are implemented into parliamentary legislation.

Supremacy Constitutional act and decisions Ver National laws take precedence over international laws in case of contradictions. After the parliamentary elections of 2023, a coalition government was established (National Party + ACT + New Zealand First), led by Christopher Mark Luxon.

The political system remains stable, without social conflicts, but savings in government spending and cuts in the public sector have increased public pressure. The public administration efficiency index is 1.53 (on a scale of -2.5 to +2.5).

This is above the global average (-0.04) and puts New Zealand is in the top 10 in terms of the quality of bureaucracy, policy implementation and independence with According to the UN data for 2024, New Zealand remains in the group of very high levels of digital development (EGDI ~0.88), at the level of the Estonian and British systems.

Government services (RealMe, SmartStart, govt.nz) integrated into online According to the Edelman Trust Barometer 2025, trust in the state has dropped to 45% (below the global average of 56%).

Public frustration is caused by the growing economic gaps. However, Christopher Luxon retains a majority in parliament and a position in the support ratings. New Zealand does not officially host permanent foreign military bases. At Harewood Airport in A small US logistics support facility for Antarctic flights has been operating in Christchurch since the 1950s.

New Zealand – founder and active supporter The International Criminal Court (ICC); ratified The Rome Statute and regularly supports its cases. In 2022-2025. The country has entered into the process of the case Ukraine against Russia in The International Court of Justice (ICJ). The state is unitary, but with a developed system of local self-government (78 district and city councils with budgets and municipalities). taxes).

Central Government (Government in Wellington) Controls policy through ministries, but cities Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch has broad financial autonomy. The system is mixed, with a national center and strong regions. Special services New Zealand (GCSB – Electronic Security Intelligence, and SIS – internal counterintelligence). 

They are subject to parliamentary oversight through the Intelligence and Security Committee. Wiretapping and surveillance laws guarantee mandatory periodic surveillance. The Ombudsman and the Inspector General of Services. Reporting and transparency in diversified sectors are rated as one of the highest in the OECD.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, coverage is 96%.

Economic sovereignty — 82.4

According to the data World Economics and Trading Economics, GDP per capita at purchasing power parity in 2024-2025 it amounted to 48,000-49,000 USD (PPP). The official gross GDP by PPP is estimated at ~289 billion USD, with a population of 5.25 million people.

According to the data Reserve Bank New Zealand (RBNZ), the volume of gold and foreign exchange reserves reached 47.4 billion NZD (≈ 23.5 billion USD) in January 2025.

Reserves cover 6 months of imports, which corresponds to a high level of currency stability. According to CEIC and Treasury NZ, the national debt is 44-47% of GDP (2024-2025) and it is projected to grow to 50 % by 2027. This is a moderate level for the OECD.

The country maintains a stable Despite the high agricultural specialization, food security New Zealand has deteriorated: according to the FAO and the National reports, about 16 % The population experienced episodes of food shortages in 2020-2023. The main reason is not production, but high prices and unequal access to food.

About 86-88 % of the electricity in New Zealand is made from renewable sources: hydropower (55 55%), geothermal resources (≈ 20%), wind and solar installations — ≈10%. Fossil fuels are understated Local wealth is coal (about 8.6 billion tons of proven reserves) and iron ore, saprolites, gold, silver and rare earth elements.

The main coal basins of the New Zealand have some of the largest water resources in the world, with 425,000 km of rivers and 4,000 lakes, many of which are used for hydropower. 145 million liters per person (10 times the global average). Key Infrastructure – Exchange Settlement Account System (ESAS) Reserve Bank New Zealand, which performs the functions of a high-speed currency and bank settlement system.

The national currency, the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), is used in all domestic transactions and in much of the regional trade (Oceania and Southeast Asia). According to RB In New Zealand, more than 80% of export contracts for agricultural products are conducted in NZD or USD, depending on the market; at the global level, NZD is one of the ten most traded currencies (approx. 2% of Forex turnover).

The issue and monetary policy are carried out by Reserve Bank New Zealand (Reserve Bank of New Zealand, RBNZ). It has a mandate to control inflation (target range 1-3%) and maintaining financial stability. After the monetary reforms of 2024 RBNZ manages rates through the "Official Cash Rate" assessment (5.5% in 2025) and operations on capital markets. 

The Bank issues the national currency and reports in NZD, i.e. He is fully sovereign in monetary policy.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 96%

Technological sovereignty — 78.9

Investment in research and development in 2024 This year it reached 6.4 billion NZD, which corresponds to 1.54% of GDP (in 2022 it was 1.49%). The investment growth of 21% in two years was provided by government and private Science & Innovation programs (under supervision Ministry of Science and Technology).

New Zealand does not pursue a strict import substitution policy, but relies on global supply chains. According to According to the Ministry of Business and analytical data, the country depends on imports of electronics, machinery and machinery for >60%. The government implements only targeted programs to create local production facilities and automation, while the main focus is on digital and biotechnological niches.

Higher education enrollment is 77% of the generation (UNESCO 2022 data), which is significantly higher than the global average (55%). Universities Auckland and Otago ranks in the top 100 QS in biomedicine and technological sciences.

According to the Digital 2025 report, in January 2025 in New Zealand had 5.03 million Internet users, accounting for 96.2% of the population. The country is in the top 15 in terms of Internet speed (average. ~100 Mbps) and provides the national broadband coverage (NZ UFB Program).

The Government has created a single digital space as part of the Digital Public Infrastructure and Government Services Online initiatives. Key platforms: RealMe (digital identification), SmartStart (government services for families), NZ Business Connect (business registration), and a single portal govt.nz In 2025, the state mobile portal was launched with the integration of all departmental services in one interface.

According to the data According to the World Bank, 6.9% of New Zealand's total imports are ICT goods (electronics, equipment, computers, parts). The economy remains highly dependent on supplies from the United States, China, Japan, and the United States. Korea, but domestic suppliers are developing programs for secondary assembly and local software.

In 2025, the Department of Te Tari Taiwhenua (DIA) launched Service Modernization Roadmap is a national plan for a unified digital architecture of public services.

Its goal is to combine all the ministerial and municipal servers into a single portal under the supervision of the Government. Chief Digital Officer. The level of digitization of services is more than 95%, according to EGDI The UN is a country in the top 10 for a digital state.

The biotechnology sector is actively growing: In 2025, its turnover exceeded 3.4 billion NZD, and universities are considered national centers. Auckland and Otago and companies Pacific Edge, Aroa Biosurgery, Biocell, Amaroq Therapeutics.

The Biotechnology Strategy for New Zealand state program is focused on biotech's growth while ethically regulating GE/GM products. The autonomy is high in the scientific field, but the import of reagents and equipment remains.

Robotics in NZ is being implemented mainly in the agricultural sector and logistics: milking robots, farming drones, and warehouse automation. Technologies are being developed at Lincoln Agritech and Callaghan Innovation, but the scale remains limited due to the narrow market.

The autonomy is average – local niches, but the main technical equipment is imported from Europe and Asia. There are no chip factories in the country, and the main electronics are imported.

However, the universities of Canterbury and Auckland are conducting research in the fields of photonics and nanomaterials. There are R&D centers at Callaghan Innovation and the Riddet Institute, where components for sensor and food technology are being developed.

The level of technological autonomy in microelectronics is low, the country relies on the import of components.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 91% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 83.2

According to the Global Cybersecurity Index (ITU, 2024), New Zealand is among the top 20 global cyber defense systems. The national coordinating structure is the NCSC – National Cyber Security Center, which is part of Bureau of Intelligence (GCSB). According to the Q1 2025 report, NCSC handled 5,916 phishing incidents and blocked 265 malicious links, maintaining the national Phishing Disruption Service.

The size of the country's cybersecurity market in 2025 It is estimated at 572 million USD with an annual growth of 7.6 %. There are 8 active Internet Exchange nodes (IXPs) in New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Main: AKL IX, CHC IX, WIX NZ, EdgeIX and APE. The AKL IX auction site unites 96 participants (providers, CDN, tech companies) from 7 countries. This creates high throughput and low dependence on external transit. Three official languages are recognized in the country: English, Te Reo Maori and New Zealand sign language.

National media (Maori Television, TVNZ, RNZ) They broadcast in English and Maori, providing full audience coverage. Media policy is aimed at preserving cultural identity through multilingual broadcasting. Fair Digital has been adopted in Parliament since 2023. News Bargaining Bill Obliging Google and Meta to Pay Local Media for the content. A draft bill on a digital tax (3% on global platforms' revenue) has also been introduced, with possible introduction postponed until 2030.

These laws increase the country's resilience to Big Tech monopolies and form a model of financial responsibility for global platforms. National broadcasters produce about 16,000 hours. local programs per year, covering news, sports, education, and entertainment. Local content dominates the viewing ratings and creates up to 2/3 of the media market's employment.

Foreign platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime) they give less than 10% of the national ether. Key technology companies New Zealand:

– Xero (Wellington) is one of the world leaders in cloud accounting; – Vista Group (Auckland) – software for the film industry in 80 countries;

– Intergen and Datacom – development of corporate and government solutions on Azure, Dynamics and SAP. The IT sector provides about 10 % The country's GDP and 5% of the workforce employment.

By Digital 2025, all localities New Zealand is provided with high-speed Internet: The average mobile speed is 91 Mbit/s, fixed — 180 Mbit/s. More than 95 % citizens use online government services (RealMe, SmartStart, govt.nz). Digital services coverage is at the level of the OECD top 10. The first Public Cloud was certified in May 2025. 

Data Centres (PCDCC) in Oakland, Silverdale and Hobsonville, the owner of CDC Data Centers. They provide infrastructure for the public and private sector that meets GCDO standards and the government's Cloud First strategy.

All government data must be stored on the territory of the country, which increases the sovereignty of the cyber infrastructure. The main network operators are Spark NZ, 2degrees and Vodafone (One NZ), all registered in New Zealand.

5G infrastructure covers 95 % It is regulated by the Government of the Russian Federation and the Commerce Commission. The share of foreign capital in operators is insignificant, so the mobile infrastructure is under national control, with close cooperation with Huawei and Ericsson in technology vendors.

The main act is the Privacy Act 2020, updated in 2023-2024. for digital realities. It sets strict requirements for consent, localization and data protection, as well as introduces mandatory notification of violations (Privacy Breach Disclosure).

The control is carried out by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, which regularly audits government agencies and private companies. IT companies. The law applies to all data processors, including foreign platforms that work with New Zealand citizens.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 94%.

Cultural sovereignty — 86.1

For 2025 in New Zealand has 3 UNESCO sites registered in the category of natural and cultural heritage:

- Tongariro National Park (1993) – mixed natural and cultural heritage Maori;

- Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (1990);

- Sub Antarctic Islands of New Zealand (1998). There are 8 more sites on the preliminary list, including historical districts. Pressure and Waitangi.

The cultural sector contributes about 4.2% of GDP (NZD 14.9 billion) and it takes 115 thousand jobs. New Zealand is a global cultural brand known through the film industry (Hobbiton, Weta Workshop), design, Maori traditions and unique art samples. Maori culture is a major contribution to the global understanding of poly and multiculturalism.

There are dozens of state awards and union funds in the country to support creators:

- Walters Prize (50 000 NZD) – the main prize of contemporary art;

- Wallace Art Awards – NZD 275,000, the largest for painters and sculptors;

- Frances Hodgkins Fellowship – residency at University Otago (since 1962);

- Arts Pasifika Awards – state awards for Pacific artists (10-25 thousand NZD). National identity is based on fusion Maori and British cultures, later supplemented by Asian and island emigration.

Maori (15 % population) They are the main bearers of the mana, hapu, haka, hangi traditions, and their Te Reo Maori language has a state status. The principles of whakapapa (ancestry) are important for Kiwi identity and manaakitanga (hospitality). Maori and Stepsons of Pacific Communities (Pacific) They receive priority support through Maori Affairs and Creative NZ.

The Government guarantees participation in cultural heritage management and funds Te Reo Maori education, cultural centers and media. Law Wai 262 Report (2021) provides for the legal protection of traditional knowledge and intellectual property Maori.

There are more than 460 museums and cultural institutions, including:

- Te Papa Tongarewa (National Museum, Wellington);

- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki;

- Canterbury Museum; - NZ Film Archive. A significant number of museums have sections Maori and Pacific Heritage.

Since 2005, the Cultural Diplomacy International Program (MCH), a state program for the promotion of New Zealand culture abroad, has been implemented. Its members are the Royal NZ Ballet, NZ Symphony Orchestra, Black Grace and galleries in The Pacific region.

The program with a budget of 2.35 million NZD/year forms the "brand of the creative nation". Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and the ICOMOS NZ National Committee control the heritage sites.

The Policy for Government Management of Cultural Heritage Places (2023) is in effect, prescribing mandatory consideration of views Maori during restoration and reconstruction. Brands and objects of traditional art have legal protection through the registration of taong (cultural values) in the Heritage List.

Kitchen New Zealand combines British and Maori traditions with influences from Oceania and Asia: hangi, mussels in cream, fish and chips, Paulsen oysters, sheep meat and high-level wines. Modern fusion gastronomy (Aotearoa Cuisine) It is present in the export of brands such as New Zealand Lamb and Cloudy Bay.

Cooking is one of the leading aspects of tourism and identity. According to According to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Creative NZ, more than 70% of New Zealanders visit museums, concerts or theaters annually, and about 10% are employed in the creative industries. Online access through the Te Papa Digital and Art New Zealand platforms increases the engagement of youth and diasporic communities.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 97%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 87.6

Human Development Index (HDI) in New Zealand's growth in 2023 was 0.938, which corresponds to the category of "very high development". According to the 2025 ranking, the country ranks 13th-15th in the world, slightly behind Australia and Switzerland.

Regional indicators: Wellington — 0.969, Auckland — 0.968, Canterbury — 0.943. According to the data According to the World Bank, in 2022, education spending accounted for 5.23% of GDP (13.14% of total government loans).

The share of public financing of education in the budget structure has consistently remained above the OECD average. According to OECD PIAAC (2024), approximately 74% of adults are proficient in reading at a functional level, and 26% are below Level 3 (below the basic level). The Manako ALNACC survey indicates a drop in the average literacy and numeracy rates for 2014-2024. by 21 and 15 points, respectively, especially among Maori and Pacific Group.

In the PISA 2022 tests, New Zealand schoolchildren maintained their level above the OECD average, but showed a record decline in results:

– Mathematics — 479 points (-15 by 2018);

– Science — 504 points (-15);

– Reading — 501 points (-5).

The gap between rich and poor students has increased by 17%.

According to the data According to the World Bank, the share of graduates of higher education in natural sciences and mathematics is ≈6.3%. Engineering New Zealand reports a shortage of engineering staff and a 20% decline in interest in physics and mathematics over 10 years.

To restore the balance, the Wonder Project initiative has reached over 140,000 students. According to The Ministry of Education and Study Smart 2025, Cambridge International (CIE), IB and Pathway Programs are represented in the country, including for Indian, Chinese and Arab students.

Foreign programs cover about 15-18% of students in public and private schools, especially in Auckland and Wellington. The official languages are English, Te Reo Maori, and New Zealand sign language, but they are actively preserved. Pacific languages (Samoan, Tongan, Niuan) and the languages of the diasporas.

Maori – ≈ 15 % population, Pacific nation – ≈ 7.4%. The country maintains a hierarchy of minorities: highest protection for Maori and NZ Sign Language, limited protection for small communities. Since July 1, 2025, a reform has been carried out – instead of 7 Crown Research Institutes, 3 Public Research Organizations (PRO) have been created under a single MBIE structure:

- NZ Institute for Earth Science (NZIES) – Geophysics, meteorology, oceanology;

- NZ Institute for Bioeconomy Science (NZIBS) – Biotechnology and Agronomics;

- NZ Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (NZIPHFS) – medicine and forensic examination and Centre for Advanced Technology (NZIAT) in Aucklands.

In total, there are 4 state structures of fundamental research. The state education system uses unified ENROL platforms, Education.govt.nz, Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) and NCEA Online for assessment and management of educational data.

The share of national platforms in the processing of educational information is more than 90%; imported systems (Zoom, Moodle) They are partially used in universities. The main state initiative is the Tertiary Education Strategy (TEC) and Skills and Talent Workforce Plan, covering support for educators, STEM fields and gender equality.

Starting in 2023. updated with programs: - Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America;

- Science Internships in Industry through Callaghan Innovation. The total state budget for the support of talents and R&D specialists in 2025 It is estimated at 1.3 billion NZD.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 95%.

Military sovereignty — 65.8

For 2023 Military spending amounted to 1.22% of GDP (≈ NZ $5.1 billion). In April 2025 Christopher Luxon has announced a budget increase of NZD 9 billion with an increase to 2 % GDP by 2032.

The increase is due to the Defense Capability Plan 2025, focused on "restoration of combat capability and regional stability." Active composition The Armed Forces consists of about 9,700 military personnel, including the army, Navy and Air Force. ~10,000 people. in the asset.

The NZDF consists of three components: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force.

As part of the Defense Capability Plan 2025-2040, NZD 12 billion is provided for the purchase and modernization of:

– 5 new MH 60R Seahawk for the fleet;

– 2 Airbus A321XLRS replace the old Boeing 757;

– upgrade of two Anzac - class frigates and creation of unmanned maritime surveillance systems. A new model of interaction with Australia based on the ANZAC interoperability principle is being introduced. About 20-25% of the equipment and services in the NZDF structure are purchased from national suppliers (about 800 companies, including SYOS Aerospace, Safe Air, Rakon and BLK Marine).

Defence Industry Strategy 2025, which encourages the development of New Zealand military technologies and exports. Border control functions are performed by the New Zealand Customs Service and the Border Biosafety Service (Ministry for Primary Industries).

The reserve of the NZ Army is about 1,100 people. (Ready Reserve), and about 1,000 more inactive ones. In recent years, the number of reserves has almost halved, and this is one of the Reservists are used primarily in civil protection and on peripheral bases.

New Zealand is not formally part of the military blocs, but participates in the Five Eyes, Pacific Security Partnership and ANZAC Defense Cooperation. After 1985, the country withdrew from the nuclear aspect of the ANZUS treaty, while maintaining its independence in the field of military policy.

Decisions on military operations are made independently; NZ is not limited to According to estimates Ministry of Defense, there are 800+ enterprises in the country that serve as executors under NZDF contracts.

The industry is focused on repairs, drones, and software Technology Accelerator was created (2025) with an investment of 100-300 million NZD for export development and military innovation. Since 1987 New Zealand is officially designated as a “nuclear free zone”: the placement, import and transit of nuclear weapons is prohibited. 0, there are no nuclear programs.

Belongs to The Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in the Southern Part Pacific Ocean (Rarotonga, 1985). Space opportunities are coordinated through the NZ Space Agency and the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.

The rocket infrastructure is private Rocket Lab (NZ) – the operator of the Mahia Peninsula Launch complex, which is used for military technical and intelligence missions by U.S. partners and Five Eyes.

National intelligence is provided by the GCSB (Government Communications Security Bureau) and NZSIS (Security Intelligence Service), which carry out signaling and electronic intelligence (Five Eyes).

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state-owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and industry databases of UN/NGO – 94% coverage

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. Institutional stability and effective governance. New Zealand is in the top 10 of the WGI world rankings for government effectiveness (1.53 points) and it remains one of the least corrupt countries. 

The high quality of lawmaking and administration guarantees internal stability and predictability of policy. Economic self-sufficiency and macrofinancial sustainability. GDP per capita ~49 thousand USD (PPP); reserves 23.5 billion USD (≈ 6 months of imports); national debt ≈ 45 % GDP is the lower limit of the OECD. 

Currency (NZD) It is one of the top 10 traded in the world. The economy is diversified and high-tech. Energy and water independence. 86-88% of electricity consumption is provided by renewable energy sources (hydro, geothermal and wind energy). 

Huge reserves of fresh water and fertile lands allow the country to remain ecologically self-sufficient and an exporter of food and water resources. Digital and technological sovereignty. 96% Internet coverage, e-government in the UN EGDI top 10. National platforms RealMe, SmartStart and Business Connect provide 95% of digital services. 

The level of cybersecurity is in the top 20 according to ITU, and national cloud centers store government data in the country. Educational and human capital. The HDI index is 0.938 (13th in the world), government spending on education is 5.2% of GDP, and higher school enrollment is 77%. 90% of learning platforms are national. 

Government support for talent in STEM and R&D exceeds 1.3 billion NZD per year. Integration Maori into a national identity. The system of two official cultures (Maori and Pakeha) It is a key element of "soft power" the country and the diplomatic brand. Culture, language and traditions Maori are officially protected by government programs, forming a social balance and an image of multicultural energy.

International cultural and scientific reputation. A strong nation "on soft power" The brands are Weta Workshop, Royal Ballet, NZ Symphony Orchestra, three UNESCO sites and leadership in global ecotourism. The cultural contribution is 4.2% of GDP. Military and political autonomy. The abandonment of ANZUS in 1985, the ban on nuclear weapons, and the absence of foreign bases set a precedent for real independence in foreign policy. 

Decisions are made outside alliances, based on regional interests and the balance of the Pacific Security Partnership. Environmental and social sustainability. New Zealand – a model of sustainable development: integration of environmental issues into national security and foreign policy. The "green brand" serves as the foundation of exports and the geopolitical image.

Weaknesses. A small army and limited military depth. There are only 9.7 thousand aircraft. active and 1.1 thousand. Reservists are employed in the small military industry (25% of local supplies). The defense capability depends on the Australian and British supply chains.

Import dependence on high technologies and chips. There is no production of semiconductors and electronics; up to 60% of high-tech components are imported. The country's R&D accounts for 1.5% of GDP, which is twice lower than the OECD average.

Moderate functional literacy. Only 74 % of the adult population are proficient in basic reading; The drop in PIAAC and PISA indicators indicates a loss of educational dynamics. Low proportion of STEM graduates. 6 % of all graduates with the outflow of young people to Australia and Europe is being reduced by technological self-sufficiency and personnel competitiveness. Small influencing power in global politics.

As a "small country," New Zealand has to rely on multipolar diplomatic tools and "soft power." The existence of an independent course limits military support during crises in The Indo-Pacific region.

High import burden in food access. Although the country exports products, domestic prices and infrastructure are dragging down food availability indicators (16 % the population was experiencing a shortage of food). Slow reforms in the reserve and defense. Army Reserve reform and cost growth up to 2 % GDP is stretched over the medium term (until 2032). 

In the event of a crisis, NZ depends on strengthening the coalition with Australia. Overall, the Cumulative sovereignty Index of New Zealand is 569.7 out of 700 points (81.4% high), which places the country in the top 50 in the global top. New Zealand is a country of high internal institutional maturity and deep external neutrality, with significant reserves of political, digital and educational sovereignty.

Its main strength lies in human capital, digital statehood and environmental sustainability, while maintaining independence from military blocs and external pressure. The main vulnerabilities are the small size of the military, the weak hardware and technological base, and the uneven quality of education.

The sovereignty profile indicates that New Zealand represents a rare type of “smart small sovereignty”: It does not rely on military force or resources, but successfully supports autonomy through effective governance, legal reliability, and an intelligent economy.