New Zealand defence budget increasing by $472.14 million.

As reported by Lucy Kraymer/Reuters on May 8, the New Zealand Defence Force will get an additional NZ$748 million ($472.14 million) over four years, New Zealand's Defence Minister Andrew Little said. In a statement, he announced that the government would invest a further NZ$419 million in defence force salaries and NZ$328 million to upgrade assets and infrastructure over four years.
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A New Zealand Army LAV III Light Armoured Vehicles (NZLAV) at Tekapo Military Camp (Picture source: Wikipedia/NZ Defence)

The infrastructure investment will upgrade the country's frigates and Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, as well as build a new fuel precinct at Ohakea air force base on the North Island. The New Zealand defence force has been struggling with high staff attrition, which has led to the idling of three ships and the early retirement of the P-3 Orion aircraft fleet, leaving New Zealand with limited air surveillance capability, Lucy Krayer reports. The challenges come as competition is increasing in the Pacific, climate change is adding to the number of natural disasters and New Zealand is providing support to Ukraine.

Army

The New Zealand Army has 4,519 regular force and 2,065 reserve force soldiers, as of September 2022] The army is a light combat force made up of infantry and motorised infantry equipped with 102 Canadian-manufactured LAV III Light Armoured Vehicles (NZLAV). There are also armoured reconnaissance, artillery, logistic, communications, medical and intelligence elements. The New Zealand Special Air Service is the NZDF's special forces capability, which operates in both conventional warfare and counter-terrorism roles. The Corps and Regiments of the New Zealand Army include:
• Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
• Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps
• Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery
• Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers
• Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals
• Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment
• Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps
• Royal New Zealand Army Nursing Corps
• Royal New Zealand Army Dental Corps
• Corps of Royal New Zealand Military Police
• New Zealand Intelligence Corps
• New Zealand Army Legal Services

Navy

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has 2,219 regular force and 611 reserve force sailors, as of September 2022. The RNZN possess two Anza- class frigates, developed in conjunction with Australia, based on the German MEKO 200 design. Nine other vessels are in use, consisting of patrol vessels and logistics vessels. In 2010, the RNZN completed the acquisition of seven new vessels: one large Multi-Role Vessel named HMNZS Canterbury, two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), and two Inshore Patrol Vessels. All of these vessels were acquired under Project Protector, and were built to commercial, not naval, standards.

Air Force

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has 2,477 regular force and 354 reserve force aircrew. The RNZAF consists of 48 aircraft: Lockheed C-130 Hercules and other transport aircraft; the NHIndustries NH90 operates in a medium-utility role, and the AgustaWestland A109 operates the light utility helicopter role, in addition to the main training platform. RNZAF primary flight training occurs in Beechcraft T-6 Texan IIs, before moving onto the Beechcraft King Air.

The RNZAF does not have air combat capabilities following the retirement without the replacement of its Air Combat Force of A-4 Skyhawks in December 2001.

Defense News May 2023