In response to growing global security challenges, the New Zealand government has introduced the Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill, aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to maintain core defence operations during industrial action. Defence Minister Judith Collins KC announced the legislation on August 28, 2025, stating that it will empower the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) to redeploy uniformed personnel to temporarily fill roles normally held by civilian staff when national security is at risk.

🛡️ Key Provisions of the Bill

• The Minister of Defence will be authorised to allow the CDF to assign military personnel to civilian defence roles during strikes.
• This includes critical tasks such as base security, weapons servicing, and aircraft maintenance.
• The decision will be guided by operational and legal advice from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

Previously, such redeployments were only permitted when health and safety were compromised. The new legislation expands this to include threats to national security and defence readiness.

📍 Why Now?

The move follows a December 2024 incident where civilian staff industrial action forced Parliament to intervene so uniformed personnel could continue essential operations beyond the 14-day legal limit. This process risked delays and potential exposure of sensitive information.

Minister Collins emphasized that while the right to strike remains protected, the bill ensures that “the security of New Zealand, and the safety of New Zealanders, endures while civilian staff exercise their rights”.

📣 Next Steps

The bill will be open for public submissions when it reaches the select committee in September 2025, inviting feedback from defence experts, civil society, and concerned citizens.