NZDF General discussion thread

[recce.k1]

Edit (character limit reached in previous post). Good to see "recruiting and training additional personnel" is confirmed/funded and also curious to see that the Maritime Helicopter Replacement to be funded is "tranche 1". What will "tranche 2" be when that is to be funded?

 

[Xthenaki]

[QUOTE="recce.k1, post: 455143,
re abov e - Maintaining Maritime Capability "This initiative provides funding for additional patrols across the Naval fleet, regeneration of an Offshore Petrol vessel, .....critical repair and overhaul gaps."
Is the regeneration of an OPV the reintroduction of RNZNS "Otago" and will she have her midlife refit or just enough maintenance to resume active duty.

 

[MARKMILES77]

Cutting of a Nation's Internet is verging on an act of war!

Australian navy ship accidentally blocks internet and radio in NZ

The Department of Defence has acknowledged that HMAS Canberra accidentally took out a number of wireless internet and radio services across New Zealand.

www.abc.net.au

 

[kiwi in exile]

Newsroom article rightwing soldier espionage trial

A case from a few years ago is finally going to trial.

 

[Todjaeger]

Newsroom article rightwing soldier espionage trial

A case from a few years ago is finally going to trial.

I have a question somewhat related to this story. What is the most recognizable or iconic bridge in NZ?

I ask because IMO the crimes the soldier pleaded guilty to really call for an old fashioned type of punitive measure to prevent future episodes.

 

[Alberto32]

I have a question somewhat related to this story. What is the most recognizable or iconic bridge in NZ?

I ask because IMO the crimes the soldier pleaded guilty to really call for an old fashioned type of punitive measure to prevent future episodes.

Auckland Harbour Bridge is the only Iconic bridge that I know of.

 

[Todjaeger]

Auckland Harbour Bridge is the only Iconic bridge that I know of.

That should work, plenty of space to put a pike with a bird feeder stuck atop it.

 

[kiwi in exile]

The dumbing down of the Defence Force

This can only be bad in the long term. Short term, anti intellectualism typical of the current govt. Limits our junior and future leaders ability to develop their thinking about leadership, strategy, tactics and learn from the the experiences of others.

The central library not acquiring journals etc for 6 years. Wtf

 

[Catalina]

Supporting the worlds largest terrorist organisation - the Chinese Communist Party - at its 3rd September military display showing off Communist China's growing arsenal of Nuclear Weapons, including the JL-1 air-launched long-range missile, the JL-3 sea-launched missile, and the DF-5C and DF-61 Interconnential Ballastic Missiles (ICBM), were none other than the long time New Zealand supports of the Communist Chinese Regime, Helen Clark and John Key, along with the North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the brutal takeover of the democratic elected government in 2021.

As well as observing the Chinese nuclear weapons passing in front of them, Helen Clark and John Key also got to enjoy seeing YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20 anti-ship hypersonic missiles, the aircraft-carrier version of the J-35 stealth multirole fighter, and a large display of new robotic drones, including drone submarines such as the older-model HSU001 and the debut of the much larger AJX002 with a range to reach New Zealand waters from future CCP bases in the Solomon Islands.

Interestingly, at the parade the dictators Xi and Putin were caught out discussing immortality through organ transplants and advanced medical procedures.

'Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality'.
- Putin to Xi, 3/9/25.

Given the extensively documented horror of the Chinese Communist Regime's forced organ transplants from those who oppose the Chinese Communist Party, refer “Tortured, drugged, and assaulted”: Chinese survivor of forced organ harvesting speaks out", the implications for Western Civilization and the New Zealand Defence Force of the growing power of the CCP are indeed grim.

Meanwhile the Chinese Communist regime continues at breakneck speed to triple its nuclear arsenal and accelerate its construction of the worlds largest navy as it expands through the Pacific with its eyes firmly on the resources of Antarctica just south of New Zealand.

 

[76mmGuns]

NZ army appeals soldier's 'inadequate' spying sentence

New Zealand's military said on Friday it had appealed a two year sentence for a soldier accused of attempted espionage, describing it as "manifestly inadequate"."The Director of Military Prosecutions is appealing on the basis the Court Martial's sentence is manifestly inadequate," the country's...

sg.news.yahoo.com

So treason only gets you 2 years.

Since there is little deterrent, and given many non corrupt countries (compared to Indonesia, China, Philippines etc) bribery amounts are quite low since the people aren't used to being bribed, I can't see why hostile powers wouldn't just make a blanket offer to hundreds or thousands of people in NZ, and offer a bonus to be given after releases from just 2 year's jail. Hey dude, we'll give you 1-2k per secret drop, and if you're caught, we'll give a 10k bonus on your release. Compared the a certain nation's massive gdp, and their military and security budget's , a few million is a drop in the bucket, in return for Five Eye's level intel.

 

[jbc388]

NZ army appeals soldier's 'inadequate' spying sentence

New Zealand's military said on Friday it had appealed a two year sentence for a soldier accused of attempted espionage, describing it as "manifestly inadequate"."The Director of Military Prosecutions is appealing on the basis the Court Martial's sentence is manifestly inadequate," the country's...

sg.news.yahoo.com

So treason only gets you 2 years.

Since there is little deterrent, and given many non corrupt countries (compared to Indonesia, China, Philippines etc) bribery amounts are quite low since the people aren't used to being bribed, I can't see why hostile powers wouldn't just make a blanket offer to hundreds or thousands of people in NZ, and offer a bonus to be given after releases from just 2 year's jail. Hey dude, we'll give you 1-2k per secret drop, and if you're caught, we'll give a 10k bonus on your release. Compared the a certain nation's massive gdp, and their military and security budget's , a few million is a drop in the bucket, in return for Five Eye's level intel.

Should have been the maximum sentance of 7 years prison, on release no passport ever!!

 

[recce.k1]

This article provides better context as to the sentencing.

The two-year sentence was the maximum available in military detention under the Armed Forces Discipline Act, but he could face a steeper sentence in civilian prison.
***
While the two-year sentence was the maximum available for military detention, the soldier could instead have been sentenced to prison. The charges he pleaded guilty to carried a maximum of between five and seven years’ imprisonment.

At sentencing, Chief Judge Kevin Riordan said the starting point for the soldier’s sentence was around three years and nine months – below the four-and-a-half to five-year range recommended by the prosecution. The soldier received discounts for pleading guilty and for the length of time he had spent under open arrest since his original detention in 2019, bringing the sentence down to just below two years of imprisonment, plus dismissal.
***
A range of factors went into arriving at the starting point, Riordan said. One complication was that it was the first ever case for espionage or attempted espionage in New Zealand, meaning there were no precedents for a starting point for that charge.

Defence Force appeals sentence for soldier's attempted spying

The Defence Force says a two-year sentence for a soldier who pleaded guilty to attempted espionage after a string operation is 'manifestly inadequate'

newsroom.co.nz

And perhaps the Armed Forces Discipline Act needs to be assessed if it is still fit-for-purpose as a result?

 

[Cadredave]

This article provides better context as to the sentencing.

Defence Force appeals sentence for soldier's attempted spying

The Defence Force says a two-year sentence for a soldier who pleaded guilty to attempted espionage after a string operation is 'manifestly inadequate'

newsroom.co.nz

And perhaps the Armed Forces Discipline Act needs to be assessed if it is still fit-for-purpose as a result?

AFDA has been updated to bring it in line with NZ laws passed since early 2000s, if you commit a crime under the AFDA and its a very serious offense the sitting judge has the power to sentence you to a civilian correctional facility where the punishment is more severe in sexual assault, murder etc. Now it is very apparent to me that there is no civilian punishment for treason on our statutes during peacetime maybe just maybe its time for the NZ Government to update that part of NZ law that deals with this issue in peacetime.
Just my thoughts on something I have had the pleasure of witnessing first hand from in front of a CO to observing a Court Marshall.

 

[John Fedup]

AFDA has been updated to bring it in line with NZ laws passed since early 2000s, if you commit a crime under the AFDA and its a very serious offense the sitting judge has the power to sentence you to a civilian correctional facility where the punishment is more severe in sexual assault, murder etc. Now it is very apparent to me that there is no civilian punishment for treason on our statutes during peacetime maybe just maybe its time for the NZ Government to update that part of NZ law that deals with this issue in peacetime.
Just my thoughts on something I have had the pleasure of witnessing first hand from in front of a CO to observing a Court Marshall.

Indeed, an issue that should be addressed. NZ pollies, like Canadian, pollies, don't see defence/security as a priority (sort of changing in Canada now that there is an adult PM here). IP theft, both military and commercial, is one of the West's biggest vulnerabilities. China's economic and military advances benefit from probably the world's best overall spying organization.