The Coalition Government plans to spend $12 billion over the next four years to modernise the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and prepare for a possible confrontation with China.
A long-awaited Defence Capability Plan, published on Monday, outlined $9 billion of new capital and operational spending over the next four years. This uplift was expected to continue until spending reaches 2% of gross domestic product in 2032.
New Zealand’s defence spending has hovered around or below 1% in recent decades.
“Global tensions are increasing rapidly, and New Zealand has stepped up on the world stage, but our current defence spending is simply too low,” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a statement.
The capability plan looks 15 years ahead but is focused on critical investments needed in the next four years. It aims to boost deterrence with long-range strike weapons, sync NZ equipment with Australian and American allies, and explore drone and space technology.
Defence Minister Judith Collins said the NZDF had been subjected to 35 years of cuts and underfunding which had resulted in a “hollowed-out middle” in its personnel. The plan includes a workforce strategy and upgrades to the housing estate, but not new money for salaries.
The largest investments are in the naval force with $2 billion earmarked to replace its fleet of helicopters which operate from the Navy’s two frigates, which will receive $600 million in additional maintenance to extend their use into the 2030s.
Significant spending will also go into aerospace, which includes traditional airforce and emerging space security. The largest individual investment, at up to $1 billion, will be in replacing the Boeing 757s used to carry personnel and freight on operations, as well as civilian diplomatic missions.
Another up to $600 million will be spent on unspecified space capabilities, $50 million on a system to knock down drones, and up to $300 million on an unmanned surveillance plane.
Infantry will get up to $1 billion for new vehicles, $600 million for communication equipment, and $50 million for upgraded Javelin anti-tank missiles. A similar amount of money will be spent on cyber security and information technology.
Key to the capability plan will be upgrading the NZDF’s ability to use long-range missile strikes to deter aggression. This may cost up to $300 million and include putting more weapons on existing aircraft and frigates, or looking at land-based strike weapons.
New Zealand has a very large maritime zone it is expected to defend and monitor, with one of the largest exclusive economic zones in the world. It also has defence obligations around Tokelau, Niue, and the Cook Islands.
The defence plan explicitly points to a conflict between China and the United States as the risk, saying it was the most likely theatre of war in the Indo-Pacific region.
“China’s assertive pursuit of its strategic objectives is the principal driver for strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, and it continues to use all of its tools of statecraft in ways that can challenge both international norms of behaviour and the security of other states,” it said.
“Of particular concern is the rapid and non-transparent growth of China’s military capability".
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“China’s assertive pursuit of its strategic objectives is the principal driver for strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, and it continues to use all of its tools of statecraft in ways that can challenge both international norms of behaviour and the security of other states,” it said.
The view through red white & blue coloured glasses.
So your defence strategy is what ... Surrender?
I listened to Collins public statement yesterday and I suggest she was totally correct. Decades of neglect will cost more to rectify than it would have to maintain the capability, and there are still gaps in the structure she has outlined.
I have argued for years about the neglect here, but also an understanding of our history and what supports our status in the world.
Our politicians have screwed us for decades, they need to move back to grass roots.
I'm listening to Espiner interview Collins on RNZ as I write this and he is using emotive counter arguments to try to shut her down. We have a simple choice in today's world; have an ability to contribute to our own defence, or surrender to the first aggressor that comes along. Choose!
That strawman is not the point I was making, I'm in favour of a competent & supported NZ self defence force.
Many countries would consider that the Defence papers unecessary self justification quote could equally & easily replace "China" with "USA"
I don't disagree with your point that we don't know who our future enemy will be. But the reality is that Trump shall pass, like all things, and the hope really has to be for some return to sanity. But that doesn't change the fact that we have to be able to contribute to our own defence, as well as towards internationally agreed defence actions. That requires a comprehensive, well equipped competent force ready to go at short notice. My view is that Collins nailed it.
murray86,
That requires a comprehensive, well equipped competent force ready to go at short notice. My view is that Collins nailed it. Were you wearing your admiral's uniform as you wrote that nonsense. Go where and do what? Has it escaped your attention that we are cash-strapped, unable to adequately fund our health service, so where will the money to boost our armed services come from?
So your defence strategy is surrender? Did you deliberately set out to offend or is that just your nature throwing out disparaging comments?
The myth about having to tax to spend has captured you. I suggest you do a little research on how money works in the modern economy and then come back for a constructive conversation that doesn't include insults.
About. Time.
Decades of running one of our historically greatest training institutions into the ground has done us no favour's. Shut down some Unitechs and redirect the tax funding.
Needs more cuts to fund this. Going to be a really "interesting"budget.
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