About us

The Centre for Strategic Studies is New Zealand’s leading centre for research, teaching and public engagement on strategic and security issues.

Founded in 1993, the Centre for Strategic Studies is New Zealand’s oldest and leading centre for research, teaching and public engagement on strategic and security issues.

Our researchers work on a diverse range of topics, including strategic change in the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand foreign and defence policy, Pacific security issues, the causes of great power rivalry, deterrence and coercion, non-traditional security challenges and the impact of emerging technologies on international security. CSS staff produce world-class research and publications and also seek to contribute to debates and thinking in the wider New Zealand security policy community.

Centre staff teach a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses at Victoria University of Wellington and supervise Masters and doctoral students. CSS also delivers the Master of Strategic Studies degree to students at the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Advanced Command and Staff College.

As well as research and teaching, public engagement is a core part of the Centre’s work. The Centre hosts seminars, conferences and fosters discussion on international security and New Zealand’s interests in regional and global security. CSS is also proud and honoured to host the annual the Sir Howard Kippenberger Visiting Chair in Strategic Studies, a prestigious position that has been held by some of the world’s leading scholars on international and regional security.

The Centre also manages the activities of CSCAP-NZ, a group of security experts from around New Zealand who participate in the regional Track II organisation, the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP).