Army logo cost $108,750 - not $24,000

By KEVIN TAYLOR political reporter

A new Army brand and logo cost more than $100,000 to develop - four times what the Defence Force said it cost three weeks ago.

National MP Simon Power obtained the actual cost - $108,750 - from Defence Minister Mark Burton after filing parliamentary questions.

Defence Force spokeswoman Commander Sandy McKie told the Herald three weeks ago the brand cost $24,000 to develop. Yesterday she said she was given incorrect information at the time.

Mr Power attacked the spending, saying the Government should not be wasting money while the Defence Force was plagued with embarrassing equipment breakdowns.

The new brand came after research indicated the old badge and slogan "Kiwis armed to make a difference" were not doing enough to reinforce its messages.

The old crest depicts a sword and taiaha crossed behind a crown and a lion. The new logo says: "NZ Army" in plain block letters with red words "Ngati Tumatauenga" underneath. A silver fern branches off the letter "A".

Mr Power said for Mr Burton to justify changing the brand because the traditional crest was not strong enough was "absurd".

"But to spend over $100,000 to do so is irresponsible.

"This money would have been better spent on making sure our C130 Hercules were kept in better condition, so they do not break down in the middle of missions."

He said it was embarrassing for a Hercules to be stuck on Niue with mechanical problems during the height of cyclone relief operations.

"This was not an isolated incident. Over the past two years our Hercules have been grounded with similar problems a number of times."

But Mr Burton said Mr Power needed an "urgent briefing".

"Mr Power is still confused about what it means to actually invest in New Zealand's Defence Force.

"This Government is systematically re-equipping all three branches of the NZDF - a process that was made necessary through the nine years of neglect visited on it by the previous National Government."

The Army decided to develop a new brand to recruit and retain the "world-class personnel" New Zealand was internationally renowned for.

"I would suggest to Mr Power, who has himself noted that National and National-led Governments did not allow defence spending to keep pace in the 1990s, that such an investment is money well spent."

The branding would be used on Army publications, the Army website and for recruitment. The old badge would still be used for ceremonial and formal purposes.