New Zealand's government announced spending on replacement helicopters today. The announcement comes before the announcement of what will actually be bought, at some point in the future. So, let's see if I've got this right; today, an announcement was made, announcing a plan will be put in place, then that body will announce at some distant point, what it plans to purchase. Then, no doubt, it will then be announced that the purchase is going ahead, followed by an announcement that a contract has been signed.
What New Zealand has at the moment is government by announcement. Nothing actually gets done. Instead, intentions are announced as if that means something, which of course it doesn't.
The government today, announced a later announcement, which will announce something in the future, which will then be announced when confirmed. That's what happened today.
The government has set aside $2 billion from this year's Budget to replace the navy's Seasprite helicopters, boosting their disaster response and aid capabilities.
A further $957 million over four years will be spent on Defence Force activities, personnel and property.
A spokesperson later confirmed this largely operational spending was additional money in the coming Budget, and was separate to the $12b estimated spend over 15 years from the Defence Capability Plan.
Defence Minister Judith Collins announced the spending in a pre-Budget announcement alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk, and top brass from the Defence Force at Whenuapai Air Force base in Auckland.
She confirmed the government would look to purchase five new helicopters, but exactly when they would arrive would depend on a business case being developed before the end of the year.
(bold added)
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