ABSTRACT
Although much is written about maritime security in the Asia-Pacific, frequently the ‘Pacific’ aspect of this region is ignored or overlooked. However, for Australia and New Zealand, security or insecurity in states in the Pacific region plays an important role in ensuring security at home.1 This chapter is focused on the role of Australia and New Zealand in building and maintaining maritime security in the Pacific Islands’ Forum area of the Western and Central Pacific (see Figure 6.1), which is typically regarded by Australians and New Zealanders as ‘the Pacific’. It is in this area that the two countries have the closest economic, political and social ties to Pacific nations. Maritime security is a significant aspect of the broader security picture in the Pacific.2
