When PM Jacinda Ardern announced this week the government had decided to give additional support to Ukraine against Russia’s illegal war, she described the deployment of 120 personnel from the NZ Defence Force to the UK to help train Ukraine soldiers as “significant”.
The decision follows a completed deployment of 30 NZDF personnel who went to Britain in May to train Ukrainian military personnel in operating artillery.
“We know that one of the highest priorities for Ukraine right now, is to train its soldiers, and New Zealand is proud to stand in solidarity alongside a number of other countries to answer that call,” Jacinda Ardern said.
Point of Order has no doubt the NZ contingent will do a very good job. It may even revive the rundown morale among NZ’s armed forces.
But so far the Ardern government hasn’t heeded the real message of the Russian invasion and subsequent bombardment, which is to equip NZ’s own army with modern hardware.
All that Defence Minister Peeni Henare has succeeded in doing in the portfolio since he took over two years ago is launch a defence policy review.
As he sees it, the latest deployment
“… provides an opportunity for NZDF personnel to gain valuable experience through conducting core soldier skills in a foreign environment.”
Implicit in that comment is an acknowledgment of what critics regard as the decline in NZ’s own defence forces because of low morale and inadequate equipment.
The world, including the Pacific, is not the benign environment it was only a few years ago, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and China deploying one of the largest and most modern fleets in the world and with aggressive intentions towards Taiwan and growing surveillance within the Pacific.
When he launched his defence review, Henare noted what he described as “the intensification of geo-strategic competition”.
Through the review he wants to ensure
“… that New Zealand’s Defence policy, strategy, and planned capability investments remain fit for purpose.”
He insists the Ardern government remains
“… committed to ensuring that Defence have the policies and equipment they need to do their jobs. 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.
“The current capability work programme will continue while the review is underway, with all individual capability investments continuing to be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
Henare boasts the Ardern Government’s record is
“… already one of historic investments in our Defence Force, having already invested $4.5 billion in 12 major defence capability projects since taking office.”
But the $4.5 billion investment was the result of Henare’s predecessor – New Zealand First’s Ron Mark – pushing through projects like the purchase of new maritime aircraft initiated by the previous government.
The four new P-8A Poseidon aircraft, and five new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft are in effect a legacy of previous ministers.
Henare says the review will produce a defence policy and strategy statement which will set out a high level strategy for Defence.
“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.
“Similar to previous reviews, a Ministerial Advisory Panel will be established to provide independent advice throughout.”
The policy and strategy statement will be delivered to the Government by the end of the year, with the future force design principles to follow in the first half of next year.
The Government will take further decisions on the next steps in the review process based on the findings of these initial products.
Defence commentator Professor Alexander Gillespie, of Waikato University, on a Radio NZ programme said the war in Ukraine is demonstrating, the technology of warfare is evolving fast.
“Preparing for that change will be essential if New Zealand is to have a credible defence system.
“New Zealand may have no capacity for nuclear-powered submarines or aircraft carriers, but its armed forces will need access to some of the equipment already being deployed against Russia’s invasion.The defence review should also examine the next generation of platforms, including quantum technologies, hypersonic weaponary, advanced cyber capabilities, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence and potentially some autonomous systems.
“Inter-operability with allies will be crucial. And the review should explore the possibility of New Zealand contributing proportionately to joint allied military budgets for things beyond its own capacity to supply, such as fighter aircraft or advanced weapons systems”.
Will the Ardern government take heed? Perhaps it should also be seeking membership alongside Australia in AUKUS.
Point of Order 
Si vis pacem, para bellum. “If you want peace, prepare for war.” The world and the Indo-Pacific have never been a benign environment, that is simply wishful thinking. New Zealand cannot afford submarines but the Poseidons and new Hercules aircraft are excellent purchases. A glance at the map tells us we need to focus on the Navy and the Air Force. The Air Combat wing must be re-established and a strong drones capability developed.
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I don’t think an air combat wing would be useful. Maybe have a “squadron” of pilots that fly with the RAAF or USAF but the bald fact is that the fast jets we had never ever saw any useful deployments.
We certainly need to arm up the Orions, and finding a way to be able to switch Hercules from transport to gunship would be useful.
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