New Zealand Minister of Defence Gerry Brownlee has called on New Zealanders to seize the opportunity to influence defence policy with the beginning of the public consultation process for the country’s 2015 Defence White Paper. The document, which is due to be published before the end of this year, will be the blueprint for how New Zealand plans to address security threats over the next 25 years, he said in a statement. “It will outline the roles and tasks that the [New Zealand] Defence Force should undertake in responding to these challenges, as well as the capabilities and resources it needs to carry out its roles and tasks effectively,” Minister Brownlee stated. The consultation process is due to run until June 22. New Zealand last released a Defence White Paper in 2010.