Tag: New Zealand Defence Force

That would be a mistake. Its central purpose is to put defence policy into language that can be owned by the new coalition government to justify some major capability investment decisions. … a bigger and bolder and much more expensive New Zealand Defence Force is about to be called for … this means staying on in Iraq with Australia is a done deal, right? These approvals of policy and capability are no simple things because the coalition government is such an eclectic mix. But while Ardern’s Labour team is easily the largest in the coalition, the Foreign Affairs and Defence portfolios were both ceded to New Zealand First, whose campaign platform on defence was especially robust. These appear in the first half of the document, which is the closest thing to a New Zealand Foreign Policy White Paper that one will find. Hence, a logical reader might be forgiven for thinking that a bigger and bolder and much more expensive New Zealand Defence Force is about to be called for. And this includes such missions as: humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the face of increasingly severe and disruptive weather events, maritime surveillance, and stability and peace support operations. This ticks many of the necessary political boxes: the South Pacific focus long beloved by Labour; climate change, which also appeals strongly to the Greens; and the community focus that is a big deal for New Zealand First. This decision confirms that the Ardern government wants the NZDF to have some combat-ready maritime capabilities able to operate beyond New Zealand’s neighbourhood with its ally Australia, and other close partners.