Former Dunstan High School student Lisa Kelliher is the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) newly appointed Defence Adviser to Australia.

For Colonel Kelliher, DMSM, Canberra represents the centre of New Zealand’s most important defence partnership and personal familiarity.

“I’ve spent a significant part of my career here, including some formative years in my professional development,” she said.

Lisa grew up in Central Otago and enlisted in the New Zealand Army, Ngāti Tūmatauenga, in 1994 as an officer cadet and completed her training in Australia at the Australian Defence Force Academy and the Royal Military College–Duntroon.

She graduated into the Royal New Zealand Logistics Regiment in 1997. She has deployed to Egypt, Timor-Leste, Afghanistan, Iraq and South Sudan.

In 2008, she returned to Canberra to attend the Australian Defence Force Command and Staff Course, where she was recognised as the top international graduate.

She later served as military adviser to the New Zealand High Commission in Australia for three years from 2019.

“These experiences have given me a strong understanding of how defence policy and operations function in Canberra, but just as importantly, they have built enduring relationships on both sides of the Tasman,” she said.

While the relationship between Australian and New Zealand forces dates back to Gallipoli during the First World War, 2026 marks 75 years since the formal establishment of the Australia–New Zealand defence alliance.

Australia remains New Zealand’s only formal ally, a relationship underpinned by deep trust, shared values, and an extensive record of standing together in conflict, stabilisation missions, humanitarian assistance, and regional security operations.

“In an increasingly uncertain global security environment, our alliance with Australia remains steadfast,” Lisa said.

“It is fundamental to how we protect and advance our shared interests—particularly in the Indo-Pacific—and to how we work alongside our neighbours as trusted and reliable partners.”

Both countries are pursuing an integrated Anzac approach—focused on deeper coordination, alignment, and interoperability across the three services.

“This isn’t a new direction, but the natural evolution of an alliance built on decades of cooperation.”

“We’re seeing more personnel exchanges between both defence organisations, expanded opportunities for joint training, and deeper dialogue on future capabilities and strategic direction.”

The Defence Adviser role is particularly important for that by providing a familiar and accessible channel to sustain momentum, connect decision-makers and operators, she said.

It also ensured cooperation remained aligned to changing strategic requirements and shared priorities.

The strength of the Anzac partnership was demonstrated in 2025, when more than 600 NZDF personnel participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre, operating alongside Australian and multinational partners in one of the Indo-Pacific’s largest and most complex military exercises.

The Australian Army also contributed engineers to the NZDF’s Exercise Tropic Twilight in the Cook Islands, where infrastructure work was carried out.

Lisa said she was looking forward to a busy schedule of activities.

“As we look ahead to an active program of bilateral and multinational engagements in 2026 and beyond, the Anzac alliance - 75 years on - continues to evolve, anchored in history but firmly focused on meeting contemporary security challenges."

Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact editor@centralapp.nz