Header image displaying a scanned fingerprint

Centre for Defence and Security Studies

Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies is advancing the security of Aotearoa, the Asia-Pacific region, and the world.

What we do

We offer New Zealand's only specialist education in defence and security studies. Our programmes give you real-world knowledge and experience that will make you highly employable. You can take programmes at undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate level.

Study by distance or on campus in Palmerston North

Research

Our multidisciplinary research offers a critical analysis of the nexus of power, law, human rights, and political resistance. It also looks at the impact of violence, securitisation and coercion on individuals, groups and nations.

Projects

Inter-island rivalry

Many Pacific islands have been tied together as unitary territories by colonialism. Inter-island rivalry underpins peaceful attempts to secede. A collaborative research project with the University of Hawaiʻi explores the driving forces of inter-island rivalry and its potential to redraw the Pacific’s geo-political map in six Pacific countries and territories.

Contact Gerard Prinsen

Law, Politics and the Limits of Prosecuting Mass Atrocity

Damien Rogers offers a unique and powerful critique of the quest for international criminal justice. It explores the efforts of three successive generations of international prosecutors, recognising the vital roles they play in the enforcement of international criminal law.

Post-internationalism and Small Arms Control: Theory, Politics, Security

Damien Rogers examines how the international community has responded to the challenge of controlling small arms and light weapons since the early 1990s. Using a post internationalist analytic framework, he specifically focuses on the maturing relationships between particular actors of world affairs and the nascent interconnectivity between their strategies for, and approaches toward, controlling these weapons.

Find out more

Typical New Zealanders

Dr Jeff McNeill’s research looks at the NZ Division’s participation in the WW1 Battle of Messines, and considers whether these Kiwi soldiers were “typical New Zealanders”. His work draws on documents from both sides of the conflict, and uses GIS to examine the battlefield terrain for clues to the events of the battle.

Contact Jeff McNeill

Women, Peace and Security and international policing

This project by Associate Professor Beth Greener and Dr Anna Powles considers the interplay of the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda and international policing in: increasing female participation and equity in UN operations; gender-sensitive policing; and alternatives to militarization.

Contact Anna Powles

Publications

National Security Journal

The National Security Journal is focused broadly on national security. It invites academics and practitioners across the expanded national security working space to contribute their research, knowledge and experience. It is available to subscribers across the Government, NGO, business and academic sectors and on request.

National Security Journal

Study with us

The Centre for Defence and Security Studies is a department of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Massey University.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Meet our graduates

“I achieved the Australasian Council of Women and Policing 2018 Award for Excellence in Research on Improving Law Enforcement for Women.”
Senior Sergeant Claire Bibby

Master of International Security (Intelligence)

“My research has enriched my understanding and knowledge of fast-changing security issues in the policing context.”
Toni Jordan

Master of International Security

Our people

Associate Professor William Hoverd

Associate Professor William Hoverd

PhD, MA, BCA, BA(Hons)
Director – Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS)
Phone

+64 4 801 5799 extension 63361

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Auckland campus

Dr Rhys Ball

Dr Rhys Ball

PhD, MSS, BA
Senior Lecturer in Security Studies
Phone

+64 9 213 6181 extension 43181

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Nick Nelson

Senior Lecturer
Phone

+64 9 213 6643 extension 43643

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Manawatū campus

Terry Johanson

MMAS, MA
Lecturer
Phone

+64 6 951 7515 extension 84515

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Dee McDonald

Teaching Fellow – Ministry for Primary Industries
Phone

+64 6 951 9359 extension 86359

Dr John Moremon

Dr John Moremon

BA(Hons), PhD, PGDipMusStud, PGCertTTL
Senior Lecturer
Phone

+64 6 951 7516 extension 84516

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
 Marcel Zentveld-Wale

Marcel Zentveld-Wale

GDipArts, MA, PGDipArts, BA(Hons)
Lecturer
Phone

+64 6 951 7517 extension 84517

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Professor Rouben Azizian

Professor Rouben Azizian

Doctor of Philosophy, PhD
Professor
Phone

+64 6 951 7519 extension 84519

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professor Rouben Azizian joined CDSS as its Director in December 2015. His areas of expertise are Asia-Pacific security architecture, regional geopolitics and diplomacy, security sector governance and national security strategy development.

Wellington campus

Dr John Battersby

Teaching Fellow – NZ Police
Phone

+64 4 979 3362 extension 63362

 Nicola Macaulay

Nicola Macaulay

BA, Intl Secy
Senior Tutor
Phone

+64 4 801 5799 extension 63145

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr Germana Nicklin

Dr Germana Nicklin

PGDipSS, MPP, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Phone

+64 4 979 3013 extension 63013

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Dr Negar Partow

PhD, BA
Senior Lecturer
Phone

+64 4 801 4822 extension 63363

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr Anna Powles

Dr Anna Powles

PhD
Senior Lecturer
Phone

+64 4 801 5799 extension 63080

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Honorary Appointments

Professor Emeritus Graeme Fraser

Phone

+64 6 951 7523 extension 84523

Contact us

Contact us for more information about the centre.

Centre office

Tania Lasenby

Centre Administrator – Centre for Defence and Security Studies
Phone

+64 6 350 5876 extension 84511

Internship Programme enquiries

Associate Professor William Hoverd

Associate Professor William Hoverd

PhD, MA, BCA, BA(Hons)
Director – Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS)
Phone

+64 4 801 5799 extension 63361

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Postgraduate Programme enquiries

Dr John Moremon

Dr John Moremon

BA(Hons), PhD, PGDipMusStud, PGCertTTL
Senior Lecturer
Phone

+64 6 951 7516 extension 84516

Department
School of People, Environment and Planning
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences