Thanks for your reply, that certainly makes sense. On paper at least, the Arrowhead 140 platform would certainly fit those requirements. Especially when considering it only requires a "core crew of less than 100 in all states and conditions". I've got to say it seems like it would fit NZ's high and low needs like a glove.
The DCP outlines the following projects, which may have relevance to a potential lower end Arrowhead 140 derivative:
Offshore Patrol Vessels Replacement
2032
>$1 Billion
The Offshore Patrol Vessels, HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Wellington, are expected to reach the end of their service lives in the early 2030s. The vessels offer patrol capabilities in New Zealand and the South Pacific. The replacement vessels will enhance the Royal New Zealand Navy’s offshore patrol capabilities as the South Pacific maritime domain faces greater challenges in the decades ahead.
In the released Cabinet Documents Option 4 and 5 discussed that the Offshore Patrol Vessels will be replaced with more capable vessels that also have some sealift and advance force capabilities.
Littoral Warfare Operations Vessel
2035
$300-$600 million
HMNZS Manawanui entered service in 2020, providing a substantial uplift in littoral capability. HMNZS Manawanui supports underwater search and recovery, hydrographic survey, explosive ordnance disposal, mine counter-measures capability, training and maritime presence, rapid environmental assessment and route survey. Purchased second hand, HMNZS Manawanui has an expected service life of 15 years. The vessel will be replaced with a similar vessel in the mid-2030s, in order to retain the Royal New Zealand Navy’s dive and hydrographic capabilities.
With the understanding that the RNZN littoral warfare unit could be platform agnostic and that the future SOPV and the two vessels earmarked for Enhanced Amphibious Sealift Vessel capability then the potential arises for a lower - end Arrowhead 140 derivative to add littoral warfare capabilities as well as those three other vessels. The envisaged Type 32 has been spoken of in this light.
The Wellington, Otago and Manawanui could therefore be replaced by the low end Arrowhead 'maritime security'variant that shares baseline attributes for commonality (up to a point as the one size fits all concept can quickly turn to the master of none) and the Te Kaka and Te Mana replacements (along with a necessary 3rd surface combatant) could be replaced with a high-end Arrowhead 140 variant that would be the 'multi-role' Frigate more focused on ASuW, AAW, ASW, EW ect. The fundamental differences between the high-end variant and the low-end variant would be in weapons fit-out and sensors.