Actually I now wonder if Australia is perhaps to wedded to ESSM. Its not an ideal weapon for a small ship like the Anzacs. I wonder if NZ would have had a change in mind if we had included CAMM into ASMD.
Going into the future it is likely that NZ will continue to use CAMM and platforms that are probably more suited to CAMM.
I do think for a two ship "fleet" not jumping on the ASMD, which was a considerable upgrade, was the lesser choice. It would have been faster, cheaper and generally/arguably better outcomes. But NZ still has their priorities. Giving up your gun layer CIWS and quading down on ESSM would have seemed scary over kill for budget shy NZ, but also in layered capability. How likely is NZ to fire missiles verse how likely are they to fire CIWS? CAMM is not without its charms.
As an Australian, its easy to say run it into the ASMD and be happy, but that doesn't mean ASMD would be a popular decision back in NZ. You have those who complain its an Australian conspiracy to milk more money and further reduction to vassal state status (which of course its not). Those who complain NZ shouldn't be upgrading anything and disband the military, let alone building a NZ battleship to go on Australian conquests. Combined with those complaining that it doesn't give enough capability for the reduction in CIWS and other features. You once you put offside the vegan care-bares, the rabid nationalists and any kiwi who doesn't trust Australia (isn't that all of them?), you have a pretty small support base for that decision.
looking back at the PR from the decision italics mine...
NZ ANZACs(click to view full) It's time to modernize New Zealand's only serious combat ships. New Zealand bought 2 ANZAC frigates in the 1990s, as a cooperative venture with Australia using the MEKO 100 German design. F77 Te Kaha was commissioned in 1996, and F111 Te Mana was commissioned in…
www.defenseindustrydaily.com
Getting nations to agree on specifications for multinational ships is hard. Europe provides a near endless lists of attempts and failures. Also Canada's failure, probably puts Australia back into perspective as a defense supplier. Canada and its companies basically sold NZ on it being like a cheaper more efficient Australia. It was implied it was basically the same upgrade the Halifax frigates got. So a sure thing. A better fit. Cheaper. Wink. And you don't have to rely on those crafty devilishly handsome Australians.