The Aspen NZ Security Forum brought together leaders and experts from across government, intelligence, defence, business and academia in Queenstown on 16 October 2026 to discuss New Zealand’s changing security environment.

Aspen NZ scholarship recipient Arne Larsen reflects on the 2026 Global Changemakers Workshop in Hyderabad - four days exploring AI, power and decision making, from Plato to a live policy simulation, and the question that stuck with him most.

The May Lookout introduces Aspen NZ's new report on the NZ-India FTA and what it opens up for New Zealand businesses, alongside a look at cybersecurity governance in an age of AI, and why trust matters more than technical knowledge in determining whether breakthrough science succeeds

The April Lookout explores how global shifts are moving from theory to practice, with a focus on China’s economic direction and what a more complex security environment means for New Zealand.

Senior leaders from business and government gathered for Aspen NZ's Wellington Security Dialogue to examine what is required of leadership in this rapidly evolving security environment. As co-patron Sir Donald McKinnon observed: "There has never been a time when national security has required such sustained attention."

Geopolitics is back, and economics is paying attention. The March Lookout explores what the current global upheaval means for New Zealand's trade, security and resilience.

As economic and national security converge, this Lookout explores leadership, trade realignment and decision-making, and how New Zealand can strengthen its position in a shifting global order.

As the global order shifts from shared norms to strategic competition, security and prosperity are no longer separate conversations. At the recent Aspen NZ closed-door Security Dialogue in Auckland, business and policy leaders examined what this new environment demands of New Zealand - and of those responsible for leading within it.

As 2025 winds down, we’d like to thank everyone who has taken part in Aspen NZ’s work this year - our participants, partners, supporters, directors, and the wider Aspen community. This Summer Review reflects on the people and programmes that shaped the past six months, and the conversations that carry into 2026.

As we head into 2026, three forces are setting the pace: geopolitical realignment, rapid technological change, and an information environment where trust is harder to secure. These pressures make one thing clear - outcomes improve when decision capability and dialogue keeps up.  Across New Zealand, from corporates to community organisations, the message is the same: we need stronger, more confident decision makers who can handle complexity. This edition looks squarely at that challenge.

Welcome to The Lookout. This month we explore how nations and communities are building resilience in a time of rapid change, from shared security challenges across the Tasman, to migration debates that shape public understanding and reflect the experiences of the people at their centre.

As global risks grow more complex, the Aspen-Otago National Security Forum 2025 brought together leading experts from New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and the US to explore how shifting geopolitics, emerging technologies, and social cohesion are reshaping regional resilience, and why collective awareness and action are key to national security.

Welcome to The Lookout. This month we examine China’s growing influence in South-East Asia, reflect on the future of the global order, and pay homage to the leadership of one of our founding Trustees and Chair.

Welcome to The Lookout. This month, we explore the escalating threats in cyberspace, the potential of AI to tackle one of humanity’s most urgent challenges, and the enduring impact of visionary leadership.

Welcome to The Lookout. This month, we look at what it takes to keep our footing in a world of shifting power, overlooked essential workers, and the power of the 'commons' to guide us through rough waters.

Todd Breyfogle, Executive Director of Seminars and Executive Leadership marks the 75th anniversary of the first Aspen convening, of what would become the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies in 1949.

The inaugural Evidence and Values Based Decision Making (EVBDM) course at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for Te Kahui Hononga / Northland Intersectoral Forum Regional Leadership Group provided a unique platform to explore and enrich decision-making skills in our community.

A message to the Aspen Institute community from CEO Dan Porterfield, in light of the recent Hamas attack in Israel.