A major step forward in trans-Tasman cyber cooperation was taken at the Five Eyes Defence Cyber Contact Group Conference in Melbourne.
Chief of Joint Capabilities Lieutenant General Susan Coyle and Commander Information Command New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Brigadier Esther Harrop signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost ADF-NZDF collaboration in the cyber domain.
Under the agreement, Australia will provide New Zealand with access to the Persistent Cyber Training Environment - Unclassified (PCTE-U), a US Department of Defense-developed platform that delivers cutting-edge, realistic cyber training and exercise design.
Director Joint Cyber and Influence Projects in the Space and Cyber Capability Division Captain Robert Smilie said the MoU was a timely and practical step to strengthen collective readiness in an increasingly contested domain.
"This agreement ensures Australia and New Zealand can train, experiment and respond at pace on a common platform," Captain Smilie said.
"Cyber threats are real and immediate - targeting military networks, critical infrastructure and national resilience every day. By formalising the New Zealand Defence Force's access to PCTE-U, we're lifting regional preparedness, accelerating content sharing and building interoperable teams ready for the fight now."
The MoU locks in a dedicated share of Australia's PCTE resources for the NZDF and sets out the operational, security and administrative framework for its use, with potential to expand access under existing arrangements.
Both nations stand to benefit. New Zealand gains greater capacity to build and share high-quality cyber training content, while both forces strengthen cyber warfare development on a common platform - deepening the long-standing Anzac bond in a new domain.
As the cyber domain becomes increasingly contested, the ability to train, operate and respond at pace has never been more important.
Cyber threats are real, immediate and growing in sophistication, with malicious actors targeting military networks, critical infrastructure and national resilience every day.
Strengthening collective training and preparedness ensures Australia and New Zealand remain ready to confront these challenges and defend shared security interests in the digital battlespace.
