Hegseth Calls Out New Zealand

Well, it's been a long wait, but finally the US is calling out New Zealand for its lack of defence spending. Currently, New Zealand cannot even secure its own air space and it has naval vessels tied up because it has no crew for the ships. And even if crew existed, it's doubtful NZ could even find the money to pay them, within existing budgets. 

I've often written about this parlous state of affairs. I have tracked the decline in NZ defence spending to the start of NZ's MMP method of choosing political leaders (MMP = Mixed Member Proportional). From that date, 1996, defence spending started to fall off a cliff. The reason for this is easily explained; to form a government, the various parties contesting elections must form coalitions and make deals. Defence is always the unwanted cousin, and so is quickly traded away. Thus, now NZ's military barely exists. 

The current NZ government plans may as well be filed under, believe it when you see it. They're all talk, making endless announcements of announcements, going to do this, intending to do that, conducting consultations, examinations, it is most unseemly. 

However, the only issue I have is with the way the US is going about this; it won't have the desired effect. Usually, NZ is spoken to behind the scenes, quietly. With the approach the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, is taking, don't expect NZ to spend more on American equipment.

New Zealand Defence Announcement

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.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/559866/defence-force-maritime-helicopters-to-be-replaced-at-cost-of-over-2-billion

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)

New Zealand Defence Capability Plan

New Zealand Defence has today released its new spending plans over the next fifteen years. Spending will lift to 2% of GDP; it's long overdue and finally NZ is beginning to take its defence seriously. 

Those interested can read about it here: https://www.defence.govt.nz/our-work/equip/defence-capability-plan/

But plans upon plans won't arrest the decline, sadly, as why would young people join up to defend their country, only to risk being thrown under the bus, and betrayed by the government who are, let's face it, a bunch of blowhard incompetents or worse. The real problem is recruiting the people and then retaining them. Since 2020, all trust has been destroyed. I would not recommend a young person join up. It's not worth it.

Got a solution NZ government? Yeah, I thought not.

Increase Defence Spending

Thank you to China for showing up in the Tasman Sea and rattling its sabre. Finally, the stupid politicians in Wellington are seeing that New Zealand does not live in a benign security environment:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/542714/expert-says-china-s-military-exercise-in-tasman-sea-serves-as-serious-threat

I suggest NZ look at the following type of aircraft: https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/air/triton 

MQ-4C Triton

When it comes to attacking surface targets, kamikaze drones could be used to good effect. By swarming them, one is likely to get through a ship's defences. 

But, here's the thing: all of this is academic if the NZ government fails to address the underlying and very serious problem; and that is the government presents no reason for the young to want to fight for their country. In 2020, we all saw how the NZ government tried to kill its own people, put everyone under house arrest, wrecked lives. Then, they came in with jab mandates. If any young person asks me if they should sign up; my reaction is, are you a fool?

So, mea culpa required, change your ways NZ government, we see you, and we're not prepared to fight your wars.

Oh, and just to add: one seriously equipped warship parked off NZ's coast, effectively owns the country. NZ does not refine its own fuels, and the one hostile vessel would prevent fuel supplies arriving, and shut the whole country down. No farm output, no transport, the place comes to a standstill. You cannot even make this stuff up if you tried, New Zealand has reached peak stupidity. 

Chinese Warship Presence

Chinese warships are sailing off the east coast of Australia, near Sydney. New Zealand has gone into a panic, particularly as it lacks a navy and air force. By that I mean, NZ has no warship capable of meaningful surface combat and it completely lacks a fast, high flying air-to-air and air-to-surface strike capability. The current mess NZ finds itself in is a direct result of the Helen Clark years, when she said NZ lived in a benign security environment. Could anyone be more stupid? They couldn't, that's why NZ's prime minister at the time, moved on to the United Nations after her tenure came to an end. Since then, things have worsened, so much so that now NZ lacks a defence altogether. 

NZ, grow a pair, and employ drones capable of patrolling NZ's maritime environment and with the ability to attack. This would be enough to deter aggressors.

New Zealand Defence Capability Plan

Those wanting to read the latest dreams and schemes put out by the NZ Defence establishment can read it here:

https://www.defence.govt.nz/publications/publication/defence-capability-plan-2019

This is an improvement but still doesn't go far enough. Readers will note that there are still no plans to regain NZ's air strike capability. Also lacking is a firm commitment to acquire drones which are a must-do in my book. They're also continuing with cuts even though the replacement capability is not ready. I'm talking here about the immediate removal from service of two inshore patrol boats, leaving just two in service. That's likely because they can't find crews to man them.

Then consider it appears the multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury is a failure. Read between the lines, it is spelt out bold and clear.

The NZ Government don't appear to be able to get its priorities right. Those priorities must be:

Navy
Air Force
Army

...in that order. Having two old and incapable Frigates to secure 11% of the earth's surface is ludicrous. Grow up New Zealand.

Oh and consider this announcement a bribe of sorts from NZ First's Ron Mark. But before voters consider giving them a chance in 2020, please remember that this lot shut down oil and gas exploration. They acted to harm the NZ economy, so they can't be trusted with defence either.

This was my blueprint published in 2017 https://kenhorlor.blogspot.com/2017/01/blueprint-for-new-zealand-armed-forces.html

New Zealand Defence Spending

Proof of what I've been saying is available by examining the following graph. NZ's defence spending has been steadily shrinking and has now plummeted to a deplorable level. The last time NZ was at 2% of GDP was in 1992.


source: tradingeconomics.com

NZ Defence Policy Statement 2018

New Zealand has got more to talk about with the latest statement on its defence capability. To put it bluntly, NZ defence has gone bust. That's right, it has failed. NZ is now largely defenceless.

Read the latest statement here>> https://defence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Strategic-Defence-Policy-Statement-2018.pdf

To illustrate what I mean by bust, check out page 38/40, numbered items 250-254. In terms of Navy and Air Force, there is nothing left to speak of.

It's like this folks, NZ has 1.92 capable C130 Hercules for airlift. That's just under two planes out of the five total. They're so old they can almost never fly. Then of course, let's not forget NZ has no air strike capability. None. Zero.

Navy, one frigate working currently I think, what else? Two offshore patrol boats and a pumped up RORO. This to defend an area of huge size, check out the graphic on page 25/40 in the link. The territory is equivalent to the upper half of Africa, all of Europe and part of the Arctic. How could our country's leaders do such a bad job for so long? I know, put a bunch of bean counters in charge.

Alleged New Zealand War Crime

Journalist and writer Nicky Hager has written an explosive new book launched today. Titled, Hit & Run, it describes a NZ SAS revenge raid in Afghanistan which was supposedly approved in advance by the Prime Minister at the time, John Key.  Was the expected launch of this book the reason for John Key's surprise resignation?

An audio from Radio NZ of the lauch can be found here: http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=201837462

New Zealand Shopping for Aircraft

This week (8-14 Jan 2017) Stuff website reported on Japanese news that NZ is shopping for new aircraft: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/88301398/defence-force-denies-it-has-started-negotiations-with-japan-over-aircraft-order

NZ deny this of course, but who would you believe? Oh that's right, the Japanese are to be believed. It looks like NZ favours the Kawasaki P-1 and C-2. Fair enough, they share parts, but I still maintain drones like the MQ-9 Reaper make more sense than a P-1 or P-8. But heh, the fly boys have to have something to get airborne with, that'd be driving their thinking. The C-2 on the other hand is pretty good, read about it here.

Please discuss these developments over at the forum:
http://dailyopinion.boardhost.com/index.php