-
Watch Video
-
Related
The New Zealand Defence Force is in store for cuts and consolidation under a major shake-up announced by the government today.
Prime Minister John Key launched the Defence White Paper , the first comprehensive defence review in 13 years, which sets the defence blueprint for the next 25 years.
Fourteen hundred jobs currently done by those in uniform will be given to civilians. The government says these are back room roles covering administration, IT, some museum staff, some band members and Air Force photographers.
The government said some roles will be cut altogether in an effort to save money but it does not know how many at this stage.
The Chief of Defence Force said those in uniform who are affected will move into other uniform roles or into the private sector successfully.
A defence transformation plan has already reprioritised $100 million and a "Value for Money" project will identify a further $250 million, around 10% of the defence budget, to be reprioritised over the next five years.
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said this is necessary due to the increased cost that comes from introducing new and upgraded capabilities, including $900 million worth of new helicopters, $500 million of new ships, and $600 million of upgraded Hercules and Orion aircraft.
The government would be looking at consolidating the Central North Island Defence 'hub' at the Ohakea Air Force base near Palmerston North.
There is a clear signal this will mean moving operations from Linton army base, Waiouru and Trentham to Ohakea.
Mapp said much of the infrastructure is run down and does not meet current requirements, while maintenance costs are high.
The government would be looking for new public/private partnerships to provide efficient facilities that will save money in the long term.
Pressure points in region
The White Paper proposes retaining and enhancing naval combat capabilities and boosting overseas deployment capability.
The report said New Zealand and its associated states were
"highly unlikely" to face direct military threat over the next 25
years, but increased pressure on maritime resources and an
increased risk of illegal migration were likely.
The United States was likely to remain the pre-eminent military
power for the next 25 years, but its relative technological and
military edge would diminish.
"Tensions related to the Korean peninsula, Taiwan and the South China Sea will continue, as will pressure points in south and Southeast Asia," the report said.
"Security structures in the Asia-Pacific region will continue to evolve. The Middle East will remain a region of instability."
The report said the Pacific region was fragile, and tasks in and around New Zealand and the South Pacific would be the starting point for choosing the military capabilities of the force.
"This means, with Australia, being able to deal with any reasonably foreseeable contingency in the South Pacific."
While the South Pacific would be a focus, there also needed to be capability for credible contribution to stability in Asia, as well as further afield.
"It is proposed that the combat effectiveness, protection,
sustainability, and mobility of land forces be improved, and that
the critical enabling capabilities of long-range air and sea
transport be maintained.
These measures will allow the NZDF to deploy more troops on
overseas operations, and for longer."
Short range maritime patrol aircraft and satellite imagery were part of the proposed force structure, to enhance New Zealand's domestic and regional border and maritime resource protection capability.
The two Anzac frigates and transport aircraft would be replaced "at the end of their life".
The NZDF would also "civilianise a significant number of posts currently filled by uniformed personnel not required to deploy operationally", enabling it to shift uniformed personnel to the front of the organisation.
Value for money
Key said the the White Paper looks at global security, the challenges New Zealand is likely to face, and what resources and capabilities the defence forces need.
"It is vital that we have a blueprint of the strategic and defence challenges for New Zealand over the next 25 years."
The White Paper has an emphasis on value for money, as well as strategy and policy, he said.
"Defence is expensive, so we need to get the most out of our defence budget. We want to move resources to the frontline where possible."
To this end, the New Zealand Defence Force is undertaking a comprehensive redistribution and investment programme, Key said.
"Our defence forces are serving us proudly overseas yet face significant challenges and risks in difficult conditions. That is why we want to make sure they are appropriately trained and equipped to undertake the tasks required of them.
"This White Paper provides the framework for a strong and effective defence force in the years ahead."
"Too vague"
However the Labour Party says the paper generates more questions than it provides answers and is vague on the cost of equipment upgrades and also on how it expects to realise up to $400 million savings.
Labour leader Phil Goff said there had to be concerns about the huge costs that would be involved in new frigate equipment to bolster self-defence capabilities, and restructures were not likely to fund them.
"The White Paper doesn't expose the cost of proposed new expenditure, nor does it detail how it will make the up to $400 million a year in savings it sets out as its objective," he says.
It appeared no hard decisions had been made and it was merely hoped that hundreds of millions in savings could be made, he said.
"But transferring resources from the back-line to the front-line is more a slogan than a strategy.
There is no guarantee they will realise that, and their lack of confidence is spelled out by the fact they have not specified where the savings are coming from, nor have they specified what the likely costs of the intended new investments are."
While consolidating NZDF bases would realise long-term savings, costs would spike in the short-term, he said.
Goff said he agreed New Zealand needed to maintain its ability to commit combat-ready troops to hot-spots around the globe, and strategy-wise, those goals were not much different than under the previous Labour government.
Green Party defence spokesman Keith Locke said it was a shame the review didn't signal a move towards a more independent defence policy, rather than aligning with the United States and Australia.
"It's disappointing the review doesn't project further moves towards independence following our departure from Anzus and the scrapping of our air combat force," he said.
"The review ties us to Australian defence policy, advocating an Anzac Ready Response Force, which would be dominated by Australia."
Locke said the financial constraints faced by the force was a
good reason to phase out the remaining two frigates, something that
would enable New Zealand to be seen as a non-partisan player in the
Asia-Pacific region."
What do you think if the plans to shake-up the Defence
Force? Have your say on our messageboard below.
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
Add a Comment:
Post new commentthinkaboutit said on 2010-11-02 @ 21:04 NZDT: Report abusive post
The central issue here is lack of financial resources to support our military. The recommendations in this White Paper is one way to "skin the cat " - arguably another way would be to say to Australia and the U.S. " we can reduce your security risks but unless you fund our military we pose a threat to your country because of our geographical position and vulnerability".
thinkaboutit said on 2010-11-02 @ 19:22 NZDT: Report abusive post
Sounds like privatisation of the NZ military! It will be interesting to see if this means that in practice those on the front line will have to produce a credible business case before pulling the trigger!
relentlessrob said on 2010-11-02 @ 11:15 NZDT: Report abusive post
A good result at face value, cost efficiencies and funding to the front line are a important process. Though no major purchases, the three xtra LUH Helicopters will be welcome & conversion of some LAV's to support roles Military Ambulances etc. Good news on the short range maritime patrol capability & Sat Surveillance & important commitments to maintain/replace the core capabilities of the NZDF Transport and Maritime Aircraft & upgrade/replacement of Frigates. High Readiness Company is positive.