UNCLAS Strategy Article Free to the Public 13 May 2023
Simon Ewing-Jarvie

More Strategy – Less Strategic Planning

Strategy is easy. Good strategy is hard.

You can’t call something a strategy and make it so any more than painting a ship grey means it’s a warship. New Zealand is very bad at strategy. So bad, in fact, that it doesn’t even have one. This is a function of career politicians on both sides of the House who stand for nothing other than being in power.

There are plans masquerading as strategy. There are reviews and assessments and principles. No-one in any New Zealand government that I can recall has ever articulated a grand strategy for this country. As a result, our national security agencies are left to discuss what capabilities they think Treasury – the tail that wags the national security dog – will recommend to Government.

Controlling the language means controlling the debate. That’s why it’s important that Kiwis don’t accept the misuse, misrepresentation and complete absence of real strategy by politicians and officials.

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Published by Simon Ewing-Jarvie

I tell stories in order to challenge people to challenge the status quo. Much of my work is investigative journalism in both print and podcast media. Other pieces are more academic in nature. The pure pleasure comes from creating fiction. As part of my day-to-day work, I also design and deliver outcome simulations (business war games) for corporate clients and provide 'Red Team' services for organisations that want to stress-test their plans. I teach a range of experiential learning programmes. I research and publish on national security issues with a New Zealand focus and am the co-founder of a private think tank in this space. My passion is writing fiction (under the pen name of Simon Roberts) that helps people engage in an interesting way with complex concepts about future war, intelligence and security. I love boating and fishing in between and the Marlborough Sounds in New Zealand's South Island is my favourite haunt. I play several musical instruments averagely, grow chillies and have run the odd scotch whisky school.