New planes at odds with peace: MP
The Green Party says New Zealand is not truly subscribing to the rules-based order by purchasing new military planes with increased combat capability.
On Monday, Defence Minister Ron Mark announced the Government would buy four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the United States Government at a cost of
$2.3 billion.
The planes, which have enhanced weapon and submarine-hunting capabilities, will be delivered from 2023, with the cost spread out to 2026, and would replace the fleet of ageing P-3K Orions.
Mark said the P-8s were the only choice, and would strengthen the Government’s Pacific reset.
Meanwhile, new New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) chief Air Marshal Kevin Short said the Government wanted the option of the full range of military capabilities, explaining ‘‘unless you buy that upfront, you never have that option’’.
‘‘We are a military force, and what we wanted for the Government is a response option,’’ Short added.
Mark and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have spoken extensively about the growing threat to the global rules-based order.
And it seems part of New Zealand’s response was to ensure the NZDF is combat capable, and has interoperability with its traditional allies.
But Green Party defence spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman said New Zealand needed to move away from investing in war industries if it was serious about upholding the international rules-based system.
‘‘We need to move away from following the old world order of the US, United Kingdom, Australia and diverse from investing in the war industries and focus on what we can do best, instead.’’
New Zealand should focus on search and rescue, and supporting scientific research, she added.
But there was pressure in the international community where New Zealand had ‘‘constructed ally ships’’ to continue to invest in combat capable equipment, like the P-8s.
‘‘New Zealand has always been really great at building our own path, especially when it comes to peace and disarmament. My hope is we do stand up for a different approach.’’
Earlier this year, the Government revived the ministerial portfolio of disarmament and arms control, which Peters had been appointed to.