New Zealand and Australia are to work together more on defence matters, including technology and purchasing equipment.
Minister of Defence Jonathan Coleman and Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith said a new Australia New Zealand Defence Relationship Framework builds on the Anzac tradition.
The framework provides for regular talks between senior civilian and military personnel to provide order and rigour to policy, military capabilities, and defence activities between the two countries.
"In a more complex and expensive strategic operating environment, New Zealand and Australia have to find ways of working more closely together, so that we complement each other's effectiveness," Dr Coleman says.
The two countries have also agreed that Australia's Defence Science and Technology Organisation and New Zealand's Defence Technology Agency will work more together on technology issues.
The ministers met in Melbourne in conjunction with the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting.
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