Yep. The Ministers speech
The Climate Crisis: Defence Readiness and Responsibilities at the press conference with the Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw, (Greens co-leader) in attendance sums up what NZDF will be required to undertake with the
full report going into more detail, although it's more flash rather than substance.
This remark in the
Stuff story is quite pertinent and illustrates a 2 decade old NZ policy failing:
"[Jose]Sousa-Santos puts the emphasis on capability. "We don't really have the right toys, the right kit to respond in the same way as Australia and the US. "We don't have landing craft, our amphibious capability is almost non-existent, our last helicopter purchase was a little short-sighted. We are very focused on peacekeeping, and still very much a ground-based Defence Force." "
It could be argued that NZDF has been a ground based defence force since WW2 despite NZ being an island maritime nation. A classic exemplar of sea blindness.
This development may be why the Hercules replacement announcement has been delayed, yet again.
The Defence Capability Plan is due early next year so we will see what that will have to say. I think that they may also look at something like:
- increase in amphibious capability,
- increase in airborne & spaceborne maritime surveillance capability,
- 1 possibly 2 ships along the lines of the RCN Harry de Woolf Class AOPV (VARD-7-100-AOPV) as SOPV,
- increased numbers in and more capable OPVs (Protector OPVs are VARD-7-85-OPV),
- increased numbers in FAMC tactical and strategic platforms and increased budget for the FAMC,
- possible addition of rotary wing capability to FAMC,
- possible 3rd FFH/G due to the increased security concerns.
This could possibly mean an increase in funding for NZDF as well, both CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) and OPEX (Operational Expenditure) because the increased demands on NZDF will require a significant increase in VOTE: NZDF and this will be politically acceptable across the board. Even the Greens will be supportive of it because it is environment related. The left wing loonies won't have any traction about it and if some of the pollies try to derail it they will be accused as being climate change deniers or something worst for not wanting to help Pacific Islanders in times of need.
Hehe, this is a plan so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel.