Author: Van Jackson

The buzz from New Zealand’s Strategic Defence Policy Statement (DPS) released last Friday has focused on its uncommon candor about China.  According to a statement at the end of the document, the DPS was heavily coordinated across the government, and reflects a commendable shift in public tone.  It’s on-trend with how other liberal democracies see the world today, and avoids doublespeak about threats to New Zealand’s interests. 

Article: http://www.incline.org.nz/home/the-price-of-new-zealands-strategy-force-mismatch
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Note from Nighthawk.NZ:

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Author: Audrey Young and Lucy Bennett

A Navy ship came close to capsizing with 75 people aboard in treacherous conditions in the Southern Ocean, Defence Minister Ron Mark has revealed.

Article: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12084397
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Note from Nighthawk.NZ:

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Author: Ron Mark

Today I announced that we've begun the first phase of a vital vehicle replacement project.

The Protected Mobility project has initial funding of $18.6m. This will go towards procuring new light ATV style vehicles and will also fund the first stage of scoping for a replacement of the Armoured Pinzgauer.

Article: https://www.facebook.com/RonMarkMP/posts/today-i-announced-that-weve-begun-the-first-phase-of-a-vital-vehicle-replacement/2256329541246501/
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Note from Nighthawk.NZ:

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Author: Stacey Kirk

The Government has signed off the $1 billion-plus purchase of five new C-130J aircraft, bypassing a tender process, but citing the need for "proven" reliability in a "critical" defence capability. 

Article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/113363745/nz-military-20b-shopping-list-planes-boats-soldiers-satellites-and-drones
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Note from Nighthawk.NZ:

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Author: Stacey Kirk

COMMENT: We're a peaceful, tiny country at the bottom of the world. 

When our Government seems obsessed with "wellbeing", teachers are struggling to be paid properly, the public health system seems to be falling apart at the seams and people are homeless; it's not unreasonable to question why New Zealand even needs a military. 

Article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/113389596/why-does-nz-need-a-military-for-more-reasons-than-you-might-think
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Note from Nighthawk.NZ:

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Author: HON RON MARK

Minister of Defence Ron Mark has today released the Defence Capability Plan 2019

The Defence Capability Plan sets out the Government’s indicative planned investments in the New Zealand Defence Force. It covers all capability investments out to 2030, and signals investments following 2030 that will be assessed through the next Defence White Paper in 2022.

Article: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/defence-capability-plan-2019-released#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSignificant%20new%20planned%20investment%20includes,a%20two%20vessel%20sealift%20fleet.
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Note from Nighthawk.NZ:

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The Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN) first purpose-built ship in 10 years, the HMNZS Aotearoa,  was launched at Hyundai Heavy Industries’s Ulsan shipyard in South Korea.

Article: https://www.marinelink.com/news/rnzn-tanker-aotearoa-hits-water-465567
Note from Nighthawk.NZ:

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Author: Terence O'Brien
The Ardern coalition government has chosen an awkward moment internationally to release its first big picture view on world affairs. The primary purpose of its 2018 Strategic Defence Policy (SDP) Statement is to demonstrate why NZ requires a suite of identified military capabilities. Although the envisaged costs are considerable, the statement presents a solid case for equipping NZ first and foremost for credible stewardship and protection of its ‘near abroad,’ from Antarctica to the Equator. The presentation is clear and concise.