# NZ Risks Five Eyes Exclusion Without Digital System

> New Zealand faces losing Five Eyes intelligence access if it doesn't join the digital super-system by 2027.
- Title: NZ Risks Five Eyes Exclusion Without Digital System · RNZ
- Summary: New Zealand faces losing Five Eyes intelligence access if it doesn't join the digital super-system by 2027. New Zealand could be cut off from Five Eyes…
- Keywords: five eyes, project arcadia, new zealand defence force, budget 2027, digital super-system, military tech, intelligence sharing, politics, news, Risks, Five, Eyes
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/political/1798624/warning-nz-could-be-cut-off-from-five-eyes-info-for-not-signing-up-to-digital-super-system
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-08T17:35:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: five eyes, project arcadia, new zealand defence force, budget 2027, digital super-system, military tech, intelligence sharing, politics, news
## Warning issued
A Defence Force commander warned New Zealand would be cut off from Five Eyes information exchanges if it did not sign up to build Project Arcadia.

> A Defence Force commander warned New Zealand would be cut off from information exchanges within the Five Eyes intelligence group if it did not sign up to build a new digital super-system
## Project Arcadia
Project Arcadia is a digital backbone linking Five Eyes militaries that NZDF must join by Budget 2027 to avoid losing access to foundational capabilities.

> Arcadia capabilities will become foundational to the way that we plan, integrate and execute operations with FVEY partners
## NZDF's role
New Zealand helped develop Project Arcadia when it led a key Five Eyes information group in 2024-25 and now needs to sign up to maintain influence.

> Without joining the MOU, NZ risks becoming a lower trust, lower influence partner
## Funding needed
Defence forces worldwide are rushing to get hold of emerging military tech, and NZDF needs extra funding in Budget 2027 for a six-year Arcadia build.

> The spread of costs are not known at this point
## Strategic importance
Arcadia would enhance warfighting and intelligence gathering, giving NZ access to emerging technologies and ensuring interoperability with Five Eyes partners.

> Arcadia enables FVEY partners and their communities ... to work together faster, more securely, and at a greater scale
## Timeline
The MOU was signed in May 2026, with NZDF spending about $3 million by April 2026 on the project.

> By April the NZDF had spent about $3 million on it
## Key takeaway

New Zealand could be cut off from Five Eyes intelligence exchanges if it doesn't sign up to build Project Arcadia by Budget 2027.