Reuben SteffReuben Steff

Dr Reuben Steff teaches International Relations and Security Studies in the Department of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Waikato. His research predominately focuses on nuclear deterrence, NZ foreign policy, the functioning of ideology, and geopolitical competition between the US, Russia and China. He is the author of the book Strategic Thinking, Deterrence and the US Ballistic Missile Defense Project: from Truman to Obama (2014).

Winston Peters is softening on China – and that’s not necessarily a good thing

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The fiery rhetoric of campaigns gone by has been replaced by a more pro-China stance in a recent speech. Despite expectations in some quarters that Winston Peters might take a harder line on China during his tenure as the new NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, he firmly put that idea to bed last … Read more

No, New Zealand does not have an ‘independent foreign policy’

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Facing a growing tension between a security alliance with the US and economic links with China, the idea of independence for New Zealand looks increasingly strained, writes international relations lecturer Reuben Steff. In what was dubbed a “farewell speech”, the outgoing minister of foreign affairs Murray McCully last week repeated the oft-stated claim that New Zealand has an “independent” foreign policy. … Read more