Defense Minister Judith Collins said the world is “inherently more dangerous” and that Australia and NZ will work closer together in their “ANZAC” units.
New Zealand has announced significant new spending on defense aimed at raising 2% of GDP to a total of 2% of GDP over the next eight years, according to Defense Minister Judith Collins.
Announcing the new defensive capabilities plan, Collins said the government will spend $12 billion (US$6.7 billion) over the next four years.
“This blueprint is designed on a 15-year horizon, but we’ll focus on the critical investments we’ll need over the next four years to ensure that our defense forces can adapt as the world around us change,” she said, adding that the figure is “a floor, not a ceiling.”
In a country of New Zealand’s size and population, spending is substantial.
One of the biggest spending is the replacement of the Royal NZ Navy’s maritime helicopter fleet (estimated to exceed $2 billion), new armored vehicles ($600-1 billion), and the Royal NZ Air Force’s aging Boeing 757 fleet ($600-1 billion).
The Frigate Maintenance Program will provide additional maintenance and upgrades at a cost of between $300 million and $600 million, expanding the lifespan of frigates in the early 2030s.
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Not all spending comes from traditional equipment upgrades. There is also money for condemned inflatable boats, drones and long-range aircraft, and is allocated to “space features” from $300 million to $600 million.
Before 2028, the Information Warfare Academy was established to train NZDF personnel for the age at which war is fought in the digital and real world.
(L to R) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins will be present in Anzmin 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. Sarah Hodges/Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The main focus of the plan is improving interoperability with Australia.
The two countries have pledged to modernize their alliances and further strengthen bilateral defence ties to create a “power multiplier,” and Collins said it would lead to the development of what is called the “larger, integrated “ANZAC” forces.”
The Defense Capacity Plan also reconfigures New Zealand to protect the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.
The overall goal is to make the NZDF more “enhance combat capabilities that can increase lethality and deterrent effects.”
Protect New Zealand from enemies
At a joint press conference that launched the plan, Collins and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon denied the plan “targeted which country.”
But when asked for an example of danger, Collins cited the details, saying, “Distance certainly no longer protects New Zealand, not when intercontinental ballistic missiles are launched in the Pacific, not when a ship with huge strike power comes to the backyard.”
Both of these examples refer to actions by Beijing.
The plan itself lists threats to New Zealand’s national security and nominates Russia for “continued illegal war against Ukraine and a blatant disregard for international law.”
It also states that China’s “asserting pursuit of strategic objectives” is “a major factor in strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.”
Beijing continues to use all of its technical tools in all of its ways in a way that can challenge both the international code of conduct and the safety of other states. Of particular concern is the rapid and untransparent growth of China’s military capabilities,” the plan states.
757, new maritime helicopters, and replacements of South Sea patrol ships, were all flagged for replacement within a similar time frame of the workers’ 2019 capacity plan.
The former government had also announced an extension of the lifespan of the then frigate.
hmnzs te mana. Courtesy of the NZ Defense Forces
But whether it remains doubtful whether it is possible, Defence Force Chief Air Tony Davis told the media earlier this week that the ships can still do valuable work, but “if you go straight to the skeleton of the ship, they’re pretty tired right now.”
The plan has invested a lot in defense workers and is estimated to cost between $500 billion and $100 million.
NZDF strikes “operational issues”: Collins
At the same time, the NZDF plans to cut 374 roles from the private workforce, in addition to reducing voluntary redundancy for 144 private workers last year.
In response to civilian workers who announced the strike action, Collins told Congress that he was legally allowing uniformed staff to be buried.
Uniformed staff are not allowed to strike and provide security and airfield fire services while uneven co-workers seek wage increases.
Labor defense spokesman David Parker said civilian staff “facing an offer of zero increase… has chosen to issue a strike notification instead,” as the government chose to lack the defense budget and the NZDF defeated about 1,200 staff members.
He said the use of extraordinary forces is “unusual and should only occur in exceptional circumstances.”
Collins responded that the strike was an “operational issue” and that he “has total confidence in the Defense Forces Chief and his leadership team. I hope they will continue their work.”
Fleur Fitzsimmons, the National Secretary of Public Services, accused Luxon of hypocrisy by announcing “a massive investment in equipment and technology” without recognizing the important role that NZDF civilian workers will play in order to prepare our troops for combat.
“Defence Minister Judith Collins can say today that the military can’t “work without proper equipment and conditions,” and doesn’t mention what civilian workers are doing? asked Fitzsimmons.
She said it is important for highly skilled New Zealand civilian workers, including engineers, mechanics and software experts, to prepare equipment and systems and ensure the military can respond to the threat.
“These cuts should not have been announced before the defense capabilities plan was announced. It’s all about the face and will undermine the intentions of this investment.”
