User Profile

Robert Ayson

Robert Ayson is Professor of Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

After Covid-19: Who can NZ trust?

Already criticised for its non-transparent early response to the Wuhan outbreak, China is now being portrayed as the early opportunist, turning a crisis causing great suffering elsewhere to its own advantage. Peter Jennings, the Director of the...

Apr 29 2020

Robert Ayson and David Capie

Comment

Why NZ won’t quit the Middle East

There are several reasons why it’s not going to be as easy as it sounds for NZ’s military to make the switch to focusing on the Pacific and South-East Asia from the Middle East.

Feb 04 2020

Robert Ayson

Foreign Affairs

NZ’s useful Huawei ambiguity

On some occasions the truth may set you free. But in other settings the truth can really hurt.

Jan 16 2020

Robert Ayson

Foreign Affairs

NZ’s not-so-uneventful world in 2019

The March 15 terror attack was a horrifying trigger for a shift in NZ’s foreign policy plans - and international issues could come to the fore in election year.

Dec 27 2019

Robert Ayson and David Capie

Comment

Why the all-singing, all-dancing national security strategy doesn’t exist

Some are calling for NZ to develop a new national security strategy - but do the ‘benefits’ stack up?

Dec 17 2019

Robert Ayson

Foreign Affairs

Farewell to New Zealand’s frigates?

NZ can’t spare naval ships to help a US-led mission near Iran - but there’s a good chance we don’t need them at all.

Aug 23 2019

Robert Ayson

Foreign Affairs

Robert Ayson: The importance of a letter

What is happening in Xinjiang is too much of a moral crisis to stick to the status quo of polite, behind-doors diplomacy. Robert Ayson examines the power of the letter.

Aug 05 2019

Robert Ayson

Ideasroom

A China chip on NZ’s shoulder?

It will be a difficult balancing act, but Jacinda Ardern needs to arrest the downturn in NZ-China relations.

Jan 17 2019

Robert Ayson

Comment

Where next for the AU-NZ relationship?

Jacinda Ardern may have to address some strong trans-Tasman words when she returns to work, but that doesn’t mean the friendship is dead, writes Robert Ayson.

Aug 02 2018

Robert Ayson

Ideasroom

Foreign policy NZ must handle with care

The more US-China competition becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, the more NZ needs to encourage an environment less dominated by the big two, writes Robert Ayson.

May 01 2018

Robert Ayson

Ideasroom

Pacific reset for the Defence Force?

The Government could still announce a Pacific reset for defence, but one that involves a more stringent look at the region’s demands of NZ, writes Robert Ayson.

Apr 19 2018

Robert Ayson