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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Study with us
The Centre for Defence and Security Studies is a department of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Massey University.
Meet our graduates
“I achieved the Australasian Council of Women and Policing 2018 Award for Excellence in Research on Improving Law Enforcement for Women.”
“My research has enriched my understanding and knowledge of fast-changing security issues in the policing context.”
Our people
Associate Professor William Hoverd
Auckland campus
Dr Rhys Ball
Manawatū campus
Dr John Moremon
Marcel Zentveld-Wale
Professor Rouben Azizian
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 Germana Nicklin
Honorary Appointments
Professor Emeritus Graeme Fraser
Contact us
Contact us for more information about the centre.
Centre office
Tania Lasenby
Internship Programme enquiries
Associate Professor William Hoverd
Postgraduate Programme enquiries