Defence Minister Chris Penk travels to Australia today for meetings aimed at tightening defence cooperation and advancing plans for a more integrated force with Australia.

In Sydney, Mr Penk will meet Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, visit New Zealand Defence Force personnel working in Australia, and take part in Anzac commemorations. He is due back on 25 April to participate in Anzac Day events in Auckland.

“New Zealand and Australia share a close bond, and our military alliance is going from strength to strength,” Mr Penk said, describing the trip as his first overseas visit since taking the portfolio. He said he looked forward to “further discussions on developing an increasingly integrated ‘Anzac’ force.”

Mr Penk noted the two militaries already work closely, “sharing expertise, personnel and often procuring the same platforms,” but added “we can do more to operationalise our alliance,” pointing to the Anzac 2035: Closer Defence Relations Statement recently reaffirmed by both governments.

The release did not list new initiatives or capability decisions tied to the visit. Points to watch from the talks include any movement on joint procurement, training and deployable force packages, or updated tasking for regional operations. It is not yet clear whether cyber, space or other advanced-technology cooperation will be on the agenda.

The visit coincides with the 75th year of the formal alliance relationship between the two countries, marked this week alongside Anzac Day commemorations of the Gallipoli landings in 1915.