Whole of society security, a talk by Dr Beth Greener
Dr Beth Greener, Head of School, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University
Thursday, 15 October 2026 7:00pm for 7:30pm start
Wairarapa
Rosewood, 417 Queen Street, Kuripuni, Masterton
Dr Beth Greener will speak to our Branch of the NZIIA on Thursday evening, 15 October, on the subject of Whole of Society Security. She explains that ‘Polycrises’ are increasingly the norm. That is, one crisis rarely occurs on its own. The impacts of natural disasters, for example, can be compounded by misinformation campaigns or transnational crime.
Even the recent avalanche/flash flood disaster in Nepal is made more complicated by international borders with China and India, by high altitude and rapidly changing weather, and by Nepal’s distance from international aid.
In response to the rise of complex emergencies a number of states are embracing the concept of ‘Whole of Society security.’ Dr Greener’s on-going research in this area includes how states seek to use their various agencies for security provision, international policing through the UN, the relationship between liberalism and the use of force, and the nature of the relationship between public and private security.
Dr Greener earned her Masters degree at the University of Canterbury and her PhD at the Australian National University. She has published on issues such as: the rise of police in international peace support operations; liberalism and the use of force; gender and peacebuilding, and security issues in the South Pacific. Her research also includes the ‘Women, Peace and Security’ agenda, and recent developments in the field of international policing.
She has had a wide ranging career, having taught at the NZDF Command and Staff College, been actively involved in the UN Police Division’s International Policing Advisory Council, CSCAP-NZ, the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, and Asia:NZ Track II diplomacy programmes. She has worked with the New Zealand Army, the United Nations Police and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. Her published books cover international policing (2009), police and military roles in peace and stability operations (2014 co-authored with Will Fish) and an edited collection on the New Zealand Army (2017).
The usual rules of public discourse apply. Coffee and tea are available from 7pm. Bring a friend! Non-members are welcome, with a $5 koha. Also, High School or UCOL students are welcome, with free entry.
Dr Beth Greener will speak to our Branch of the NZIIA on Thursday evening, 15 October, on the subject of Whole of Society Security. She explains that ‘Polycrises’ are increasingly the norm. That is, one crisis rarely occurs on its own. The impacts of natural disasters, for example, can be compounded by misinformation campaigns or transnational crime.
Even the recent avalanche/flash flood disaster in Nepal is made more complicated by international borders with China and India, by high altitude and rapidly changing weather, and by Nepal’s distance from international aid.
In response to the rise of complex emergencies a number of states are embracing the concept of ‘Whole of Society security.’ Dr Greener’s on-going research in this area includes how states seek to use their various agencies for security provision, international policing through the UN, the relationship between liberalism and the use of force, and the nature of the relationship between public and private security.
Dr Greener earned her Masters degree at the University of Canterbury and her PhD at the Australian National University. She has published on issues such as: the rise of police in international peace support operations; liberalism and the use of force; gender and peacebuilding, and security issues in the South Pacific. Her research also includes the ‘Women, Peace and Security’ agenda, and recent developments in the field of international policing.
She has had a wide ranging career, having taught at the NZDF Command and Staff College, been actively involved in the UN Police Division’s International Policing Advisory Council, CSCAP-NZ, the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, and Asia:NZ Track II diplomacy programmes. She has worked with the New Zealand Army, the United Nations Police and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. Her published books cover international policing (2009), police and military roles in peace and stability operations (2014 co-authored with Will Fish) and an edited collection on the New Zealand Army (2017).
The usual rules of public discourse apply. Coffee and tea are available from 7pm. Bring a friend! Non-members are welcome, with a $5 koha. Also, High School or UCOL students are welcome, with free entry.
Membership
NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.