Britain and New Zealand have signed a pact that would strengthen cyber security, check such common menaces as hacking and promote intellectual property rights.
The agreement, signed by British Foreign Secretary William Hague and his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully during his visit to Wellington last fortnight, is considered futuristic and significant.
A joint statement issued before Mr Hague arrived in Auckland on January 15, said that the two countries recognised the gap between supply and demand for cyber security capacity building internationally.
“The UK, through the establishment of a new Global Cyber Security Capacity Building Centre (GCSCBC), is looking at how to make better use of the skills and resources internationally to address this issue.
“Britain and New Zealand will work closely to ensure that these and other efforts can attain full global reach, including how to best support the work of the ASEAN Regional Forum partners and the Pacific Island Forum’s Regional Security Committee.”
Global challenge
The joint statement acknowledged cyberspace as one of the greatest national, global and strategic challenges of the modern world and that cyber intrusions were an increasing challenge for the security of systems and networks.
It claimed that New Zealand and Britain were already working together to confront the growing threats to cyber security and acknowledged that future success will be fundamental to using transformational opportunities offered by cyberspace.
“The two countries share a common position on the core principles of liberty, transparency, freedom of expression and the rule of law in cyberspace.
“Through our respective National Cyber Security strategies, we have each set out our responsibility to protect our core Government systems and the systems supporting our critical national infrastructure. “
“We need to work with industry and business as key partners in establishing a safe digital environment for all,” Mr Hague and Mr McCully said.
Confounding policies
The two foreign ministers recognised the complexity of cyberspace policy and called for coherence across government departments and collaboration with close allies and the wider community.
“Responding to the most challenging threats will require difficult policy choices. We must develop a vision, jointly with our allies, and work together to advance this through positive international engagement,” they said.
Global engagement
The joint statement also acknowledged the inherent challenges in working with the international community to achieve consensus on how to protect the cyberspace and, within that, the internet that has been an unprecedented engine for growth, social progress and innovation across the globe and in all areas of human endeavour.
“New Zealand and Britain will work together in relevant international forums to advance common understanding on the importance of an open, dynamic Internet underpinned by the body of applicable existing international law,” it said.
Focus on Asia
Addressing a press conference, Mr Hague said that Britain was keen to engage better and bigger with the countries of the Asia Pacific region.
“You can see that in the reinforcement of our diplomatic network around the region and the sharp increase in our ministerial visits. We are boosting our presence in the world, opening 20 embassies and consulates,” he said.
Mr Hague said that his government supported peace in Syria, the government in Mali and a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel, despite the difficulties posed by the expansion of the Israeli settlements.
He spoke with a number of communities at a cocktail reception hosted in his honour by British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell in Auckland on January 15. The event, held under the theme, ‘Great History, Great Future’ at Sale St, was attended among others by Mr McCully, Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce, diplomats, Members of Parliament and businesspersons.
