Members benefit from NZDIA membership in proportion to their participation through networking, exploring common ground with other members and being involved in targeted export networks. The existing membership has a wealth of personal contacts in Defence and in wider Defence Industry through existing and previously successful contracts.

The current list of members can be seen using the blue links in the left hand column. There is an alphabetic list of all members, and lists of them broken into their relevant areas of expertise.

Networking: The concept of industry joint action has been successful, particularly through providing networking opportunities for interchange of market informationand as a catalyst for companies to form strategic alliances and joint ventures where their particular skills are complementary. This aspect of networking is seen by the many members as being the major reason for their continued membership.

Industry Liaison: The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MOD) are very active supporters and participants in NZDIA activities. They are not commercial members but participate through their Industry Liaison Managers who work closely with New Zealand companies to promote commercial opportunities in the supply of products and services to NZDF and MOD. This relationship and experience building in dealing with the defence establishment has assisted a number of NZDIA members in their export activities with offshore defence purchasing departments.

NZDIA Member Meetings: As part of group activities, members meet approximately every two to three months with guest speakers associated with defence contracting in its broadest terms. These meetings are generally held in either Auckland or Wellington, often at NZDF Bases. NZDIA encourages prospective members to attend a meeting to meet members and see how the group works and if membership is appropriate for them. As well as these open meetings, individual groups of members with a common objective, often meet to discuss and pursue their individual strategic and commercial aims

Commercial Activity: NZDIA does not become involved in commercial activities between a member company and clients or between members, but rather acts as a catalyst. The area of strategic alliances, contract negotiation and completion is the sole preserve of each member and groups of members. However, there has been considerable success in commercial contracts through contacts made through the NZDIA.

Defence Industry Forum: The NZDIA promotes and organises the annual New Zealand Defence Forum, generally held in October of each year. This Forum brings together Australian and New Zealand Defence purchasing interests supported by high level New Zealand Ministerial involvement. A major feature of this event is the Awards Dinner at which Awards of Excellence are presented by the Minister of Defence to New Zealand companies that have demonstrated innovation and commercial success. Details of each Defence Industry Forum are publicised on this website.

Exporting: NZDIA encourages and supports members with an active focus on promoting export opportunities. This is done in conjunction with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, who under their “export network” scheme can provide financial assistance for offshore activities to groups of three or more companies with a common, approved business objective. This export network scheme has also been used in the past by NZDIA to bring offshore company executives to New Zealand as speakers and to set-up visits with relevant NZDIA members. In the past, members have participated in NZDIA organised activities in Australia and Singapore, and annually to the Australian Procurement Conference in Canberra.

Membership: Membership of NZDIA is open to any New Zealand based organisation providing local employment opportunities which is involved in supplying directly or indirectly products/services to Defence. Membership is not limited to non competing companies: rather competition is encouraged as this can provide increased capacity and specialised capability through strategic alliances.