Taumata Rau Conversation pushes cybersecurity up the agenda (University of Auckland)

Cybersecurity concerns aired in a Taumata Rau Conversation add to the discussion New Zealand needs on national security issues.

Tony Lynch, the head of the National Security Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, speaks at the University
Tony Lynch, the head of the National Security Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, speaks at the University

Two years ago, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into a terrorist attack in Christchurch challenged the government to build a conversation with New Zealanders about national security challenges.

An expert discussion on cybersecurity at the University on 24 October was a contribution to that goal. “We need the sorts of conversations that we’re having now,” Tony Lynch, a top national security official, told the audience.

Fellow panellists in the Taumata Rau Conversation, hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater, were:

  • Professor Giovanni Russello, the head of the University’s School of Computer Science
  • Lisa Fong, deputy director-general, National Cyber Security Centre
  • Amber McEwen, the chief executive officer of Research Education Advanced Network New Zealand, which runs a data network for researchers and educators collaborating across New Zealand and the world.

The background included cyber-attacks which have targeted nationally significant organisations including Parliament and universities. A ransomware assault crippled the Waikato District Health Board in 2021 and last month electronic ticketing for Auckland public transport was similarly taken out of action.

Lynch, the head of the National Security Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, walked the audience through the nation’s first national security strategy Secure Together – Tō Tātou Korowai Manaaki, issued in August by the Ministry of Defence.

Malicious state and non-state actors are a persistent cyber threat to all New Zealanders,

How far do we lock down New Zealand and stop that free flow of information? You can go too far and then you end up with the Great New Zealand Firewall.

Amber McEwenHead of Research Education Advanced Network New Zealand

Individuals and private organisations are key in fending off the assaults since the bulk of cybersecurity capability and effort lies outside of the government.

Asked about his biggest concerns, Lynch highlighted the increasing interconnectedness of critical infrastructure, as powerfully demonstrated in Hawke’s Bay during Cyclone Gabrielle when electricity and communications failed after the flooding of a power station, impeding emergency responders and cutting services such as EFTPOS and ATMs.

Critical infrastructure needs more of a “system” approach, sharing information across sectors, he said. Likewise, Fong was focused on vulnerabilities from the intertwining of physical and digital infrastructure and reliance on the global digital supply chain.

In Russello’s view, New Zealand is “not where we should be” on cybersecurity for reasons including a lack of investment, a shortage of cybersecurity specialists, including in academia, and businesses treating digital security as a late-stage add-on.

Cyber panel, from left, Lynch, Fong, McEwen and Russello
Cyber panel, from left, Lynch, Fong, McEwen and Russello

Burnout of cybersecurity workers was a topic and moderator Tim McCready prompted a discussion about the potential for minimum standards and mandatory reporting.

Issues with critical infrastructure seemed to support a regulatory move in that direction, away from New Zealand’s traditional principles-based approach, according to Lynch. However, Fong cautioned there were no “silver bullets.”

The audience learned from McEwen of issues facing a digital network linking our scientists to the world.

The Research Education Advanced Network New Zealand, which she heads, is a Crown-owned company operating a network which lets researchers collaborate on data-intensive projects and is used by entities including universities and Crown Research Institutes.

In instances such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or the Taliban’s grab for power in Afghanistan, should the global community of research and education networks cut off those nations’ scientists and researchers?

“That’s been the big debate for us,” said McEwen. “We’ve come to the point where we keep collaboration going but we pull off research programmes where necessary.”

Risks from interconnected infrastructure were demonstrated in Hawke’s Bay during Cyclone Gabrielle when electricity and communications failed along with services such as EFTPOS and ATMs.

In Europe, Russian scientists were cut off from the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, because research could be weaponised, she said.

Another conversation in McEwen’s world is the balance between security and information flow.

“How far do we lock down New Zealand and stop that free flow of information?” asked McEwen. “You can go too far and then you end up with the Great New Zealand Firewall.”

Taumata Rau Conversations will continue into 2024. The series aims to spark meaningful discussions from multiple perspectives on the major issues confronting Aotearoa New Zealand.

The cybersecurity event was the second in the series, following a discussion of the future of the health workforce.

Political commentary: National Party Leader Christopher Luxon (Country TV)

In the lead-up to the 2023 election, this 10-part political series hosted by Mark Leishman shines the spotlight on the big issues facing rural communities around New Zealand. Tim McCready provides commentary for today’s guest, the National Party leader Christopher Luxon.

 

Political commentary: National Party’s Todd McClay (Country TV)

In the lead-up to the 2023 election, this 10-part political series hosted by Mark Leishman shines the spotlight on the big issues facing rural communities around New Zealand. Tim McCready provides commentary for today’s guest, the National Party’s Todd McClay.

The wrapup: A chat with journalist Jonathan Milne, who invited candidates to knock on his door (Onehunga FM)

In this episode managing editor for Newsroom Pro Jonathan Milne and host Tim McCready discuss the candidates standing in the Maungakiekie electorate.

Launching from Jonathan’s recent write up for newsroom, Tim and Jonathan unpack the developments in the campaign and how candidates have fared in addressing various issues like crime, cost of living, and climate change.

At end of the podcast Jonathan’s daughter Cleo joins Tim on the podcast to share her perspective as a young person on politics, the voting age, and what she appreciates about living in Onehunga.

Political commentary: Green Party’s Teanau Tuiono (Country TV)

In the lead-up to the 2023 election, this 10-part political series hosted by Mark Leishman shines the spotlight on the big issues facing rural communities around New Zealand. Tim McCready provides commentary for today’s guest, the Green Party’s Teanau Tuiono.

Political commentary: NZ First’s Shane Jones (Country TV)

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Political commentary: ACT Party’s David Seymour (Country TV)

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Political commentary: Labour Party’s David Parker (Country TV)

In the lead-up to the 2023 election, this 10-part political series hosted by Mark Leishman shines the spotlight on the big issues facing rural communities around New Zealand. Tim McCready provides commentary for today’s guest, Environment Minister David Parker.

https://www.youtube.com/live/aLuetTmiKCc?si=Tpz5iz_2V5KhWAqj&t=4109

Mood of the Boardroom: Where are the inspirational ideas? (NZ Herald)

Mood of the Boardroom: Where are the inspirational ideas? (NZ Herald)

Leading up to October’s election, there is a prevailing sense of disillusionment among New Zealanders about the way things are.

Hayden Wilson, chair and partner at Dentons, says that this sentiment is the product of a multifaceted set of issues, including the state of the economy, the residual response to the challenges of Covid, and a general sense of hardship.

He says that elections typically fall into two categories: stability elections or change elections, and in this instance it appears to be the latter, with many New Zealanders feeling that something must be done despite not being sure quite what that is.

“It is particularly acute in Auckland,” he says.

“I feel it when I go to Auckland and talk to clients and businesses there. And it’s not that there is an identified alternative that they want, but they just want something different, and a break from what has felt over the last three years to be quite relentless.”

In the 2020 election, the Labour Party won a landslide victory, with enough seats for a rare outright parliamentary majority.

Yet Wilson points out that a substantial portion of the electorate feels disappointed and believe the government did not capitalise on the majority that it had.

“They would say they’ve big changes which have yet to pay off and they’ve got us through Covid.

“The problem is that the New Zealand electorate looks forward, not back.

“People don’t feel like they’ve made a difference to their lives in the immediate future. That is a real challenge for this government.”

Wilson, who is also a member of Dentons’ global board and was recently recognised as one of New Zealand’s most influential lawyers, says while the negative sentiment of New Zealanders has no doubt been heightened by the economic situation, New Zealand is not much different from the rest of the world in terms of economic management.

“My theory has always been that New Zealand basically tracks about three to six months behind Australia and about six to 12 months behind the United States and Europe,” he says.

“The US and Europe were in a pretty dire position about a year ago, and talking to my colleagues in the UK, Europe, the US and in Africa, they are starting to feel like they’ve turned a corner.”

He notes that economic conditions in those regions are getting better, and inflation is coming under control in most places.

“There is a feeling of revival. New Zealand is not there yet, but you hope in an economic sense that the shift in the global mood becoming more buoyant will perhaps pull us out of our funk a bit faster than we would otherwise.

“At the start of the year everyone went to a risk-off position, but we are now starting to see a few more transactions coming through.

“We are also starting to see increases in the number of liquidations and receiverships at the moment.”

Challenges for whoever wins

As the October 14 election approaches, Wilson says politicians have not provided clear answers to make the change that the electorate is seeking, which places the incoming government in a precarious position.

“The real challenge, and one of the reasons I do despair a little bit, is that because this is an election that everyone is trying not to lose rather than people are trying to win, we are going through another electoral cycle where people are not grappling with the challenges that New Zealand faces and business faces.”

He highlights the absence of debate on critical issues and inspirational ideas on areas including intergenerational income inequality, climate change, and our taxation system.

“On one hand, we have got Labour taking GST off fresh fruit and vegetables, and on the other hand we have got National releasing a tax policy that Michael Cullen could have released with the straight face.”

With respect to New Zealand’s response to climate change and adaptation, Wilson says recent events like the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle serve as stark reminders of the challenges our country faces.

“The impact that these have had on regional New Zealand will require significant investment to ensure we are resilient as a country — which is what business needs,” Wilson says.

“But how will we do that if we are still locked into a very old-fashioned approach to how we fund government and what government does?”