New Zealand’s military faces increased challenges over the next 25 years, particularly from “fragile” Pacific island states, and must increase its frontline capabilities, a review said yesterday.
A New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) white paper released by the government recommended “civilianizing” up to 1,400 support positions currently held by uniformed personnel and shifting the money saved to front-line forces.
It said while New Zealand was unlikely to face a direct military threat, the country’s main sphere of influence in the Pacific faced potential risks from political instability, natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
“The outlook for the South Pacific is one of fragility,” it said, adding that the military must be capable of carrying out lengthy -deployments in the region.
“A weak or unstable South Pacific region poses demographic, economic, criminal and reputational risks to New Zealand,” the white paper said.
In a broader context, the review said the US was likely to remain the pre-eminent military power for the next 25 years, but its technological edge would diminish.
It said the NZDF needed the capacity to make a credible contribution to stability in Asia if required, also noting tensions around the Korean peninsula, Taiwan and the South China Sea would continue.
“The pace of China’s military modernisation and force projection programme, and the response this could prompt from neighbouring states, may test the relationships of the major regional powers,” it said.
New Zealand has about 10,000 military personnel, with another 2,500 reservists and 2,500 civilians employed by the NZDF.
To increase the military’s front-line capacity, the review said the number of NZDF bases in the country should be reduced, with a joint army and air force facility at Ohakea on the North Island.
Combined with the increased use of civilian support, this should free about NZ$400 million (US$306 million) a year for spending on additional equipment, the review said.
New Zealand Defense Minister Wayne Mapp said the changes would help pay for military acquisitions and upgrades, including NZ$900 million on new helicopters, NZ$500 million on new ships and NZ$600 million to upgrade aircraft.
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