The present minister is Judith Collins, a member of the National Party.

There was no minister of defence as such, as the governor retained control over all armed forces in the colony.

In 1863, under the premiership of Alfred Domett, a minister for colonial defence was appointed.

This post continued to exist with only brief interruption until Edward Stafford's short-lived premiership of 1872, in which no defence minister was appointed.

As a consequence of the New Zealand Wars, the defence portfolio was considered closely linked to the post of Minister of Native Affairs — on occasion, the latter post was formally titled "Minister of Native Affairs and Defence".