Ukraine war, climate change add urgency to defence review, defence minister says

A review of New Zealand's defence policy and strategy has been announced by Minister of Defence Peeni Henare.

The review comes off the back of last year's Defence Assessment, which stated: "New Zealand's strategic environment is deteriorating, and security threats are increasing," and that Covid-19 had intensified the impacts of other longer-term strategic trends.

The assessment identified two major challenges: strategic competition and the intensifying and wide-ranging impacts of climate change.

It suggested New Zealand's defence policy settings should be reviewed, and that policy shifted from a predominantly reactive, risk management-centred approach to a more proactive and deliberate strategy.

1 of 6 RNZAF P-3K2 Orion being replace with only P-8A Poseidons

"The importance of this review is paramount so that we can make sure future investments are fit for purpose in a post-Covid-19 environment, a Pacific region grappling with climate change and the intensification of strategic competition and a world which is seeing a brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia," Henare said.

The Defence Policy Review terms of reference, agreed to by Cabinet and released by the Ministry of Defence, have outlined the steps needed for a long-term capital plan.

The terms of reference "will reflect the government's priorities for Defence - people, infrastructure, and Pacific, and will also draw on the recent Defence Assessment, reflecting our commitment to regenerate the Defence Force in a post-Covid-19 world while putting a stronger focus on the region in which we live," he said.

The review will deliver a defence policy and strategy statement, which will outline the government's defence policy interests, objectives, high-level strategy and indications of prioritisation.

"In addition, a set of design principles will be developed to help shape the future New Zealand Defence Force so that they're enabled to undertake activities that may be required of them."

The minister expected the policy and strategy statement to be delivered by the end of the year, with the future force design principles to follow in the first half of next year.

So another review which will take a year which means this useless government and most useless Defence Minister we have ever (and I mean ever) had. So this basically means they don't have to make a decision and can just kick the can down the road for the next government, and cost probably for some odd reasons 10's of thousands of dollars out of the defence budget just for a review when most people already know... why do they know, because they don't have their head in the sand...

Stick to the DCP-2019. If it needs changing... increase the budget and increase the DCP-2019... now is not the time to skimp out and make cut backs. Which NZ has a very bad habbit of doing. Most people already know what is needed, get more P-8A Poseidons at least another two air frames. Get another three or four C-130J-30 Hercules or praise the lord x3 A400m's for true strategic air lift. Increase the NH-90 number heck buy some of the Aussie ones and get enough to extra spare parts.

Make a decision on the frigate replacement and increase the number to a minimum of three (however those that follow this blog know I want us back to a four frigate navy minimum) Get decent Anti Ship Missiles on the frigates looking at you Naval Strike Missile. Get the SOPV off the shelf and back on track. Kept LPD/LHD projects and replacement helo's for the SeaSprites alive. And for crying out loud (I did want to say and for fuck sake), just stop with the bare minimum and fitted for but not with bull shit it will eventually come and bite you in the butt.... especially in today's uncertain world.

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There is talk of New Zealand becoming a neutral country and therefore don't need a defence force.. that is the biggest myth, and lie out there. If we become a neutral country we better be able to defend ourselves and realms because no one else will come to our aid. Just look at Ukraine. That in turn means we would need to nearly spend 3 - 4% GDP. Where as currently I want to at least get to 2% of GDP currently we are about 1.4 - 1.5% and by the sound of it getting worse.

Stop with the wishy washness of it all just for and for gods sake spit it out. Is China a problem, the say China is becoming a problem in the pacific. While climate change is a bit of a problem to a degree it is not what the defence force is for stick ti it's primary role of defence not HADR. HADR should be a secondary role not a primary.

Peeni Henare has become one of the weakest and worst defence minister this country has had in a long time and that is saying a lot, especially when he asked for the role. He has just rolled over and has not fought for his budget.