A defence commentator says it is good to see funds for training recruits in the Budget, but he questions where the acceleration of technology is at.

About $25m is going towards modernising the New Zealand Defence Force's training over four years.

Meantime, $16m in that period is for setting up a new tech accelerator unit meant to drive growth in the domestic military market.

Josh Wineera said the new training was important.

But he was trying to square the accelerator funding with the Defence Capability Plan last year - and the government more recently - indicating $100-300m would be spent on it by 2029.

"The Defence Technology Accelerator was one of the flagship programmes that came out," said Wineera, a retired NZ Army Lieutenant Colonel who runs consultancy firm Latent.

"It was repeatedly spoken to by the Minister sort of like a gold standard that would help not just accelerator in the main but also preparedness."

The unit is meant to work with the advanced technology sector on military tech for both the NZ Defence Force (NZDF) and for possible export.

It had to work rapidly, Wineera said.

"It'll be interesting whether that [Budget funding] is actually to build the structure of the team and their unit itself, or whether that is packets of funding that can be given out to innovators."

Defence also gets just over a million a year to hire more scientists.

Tech and training are currently coming together under the 11-year-long network-enabled army programme to upgrade communication and data systems for much faster battlefield command and responses to disasters and the like.

Official papers state that integrating this programme day-to-day requires "changing the operating model" of the army.

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The $25m is for the design stage of new training for recruits and others, and to prepare business cases to build infrastructure to suit.

"This investment is essential for Army regeneration and readiness, and to ensure combat capability," the Budget said.

Wineera said the tech was always adding demands on a force with retention problems where people had to be recruited then kept up to speed.

"This would be a key focus for Major General Rose King.

"The reason is that you have to start with people, a training pipeline, and get them up ready to deploy. And I think that's been a critical factor which she and many others in the army leadership have been concerned about."

NZ Army soldiers learning about drone technology, including first person view, at Burnham Military Camp, in August.

NZ Army soldiers learning about drone technology, including first person view, at Burnham Military Camp, in August. Photo: Supplied/ NZDF

Another $1.3m is going on a mission command training site at Linton camp.

Emerging technologies have been pegged as a critical focus for the NZDF, but the Budget priorities are harder to gauge as some funding details are withheld for commercial reasons.

What it does show is contingencies for classified digital services and two lots of surveillance drones, one polar. Another $10m is for extra staff to do preparatory work on defence-wide digital modernisation.

Cost increases forecast around the Defence Capability Plan are budgeted for, with $43m a year.

The plan will be reviewed next year and defence has already ascertained its priorities for that, documents showed.

Last year's Budget had a capital pre-commitment of $1.6 billion. This year's puts a lot of money into keeping the frigates and HMNZS Canterbury going - more than $200m to restore key systems - plus $40m to plan for a "future fleet" that introduces more drones.

Meanwhile, a lobbyist for defence personnel said there was nothing in the Budget for them.

It has an unspecified contingency for new housing at bases.

Hayden Ricketts, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and director Mission Homefront, said it was good the government was committed to replace cold, mouldy homes but a shame the extent of the funding is withheld for commercial reasons.

"It would've been better to have that figure upfront."

Burnham, Ohakea and Linton camps had got some housing which he applauded. However, at Waiouru, where the need was greatest, the project appeared stalled, Ricketts said.

The Budget has $30m a year  for "remuneration uplifts" and non-discretionary remuneration increases for military and civilian personnel.

"That $30m ... won't even touch the sides," said Ricketts. "That's not even an inflation adjustment.

"I think that's an insulting figure to throw at defence force."

It was good to have investment into equipment and infrastructure but there was "nothing here for the average soldier, sailor, aviator ... trying to get food out of foodbanks at ... bases".

There is also $5m a year to recruit for trades and critical tasks.