Defence 'depth' dominates review

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

The defence policy statement due today will not address specific issues such as the sale of the Charles Upham troopship or the closure of Hobsonville airbase.

But it is expected to provide a framework on which such decisions can later be made.

Equipping the Army is likely to get the highest priority in the broad statement of objectives, which reflect a preference for developing depth over breadth in New Zealand's defence capability.

And the Government is likely to endorse a stronger joint approach among the services instead of three single services, Prime Minister Helen Clark hinted last night.

"They have run three quite separate strategies really," she said. "It means what you do is not coordinated.

"So while we have been acquiring state-of-the-art frigates, we haven't got the plain ordinary vessel in service which could transport the Army's equipment to Timor."

The Charles Upham, which faces further work to correct its heavy rolling, was on lease to a Spanish shipping firm when New Zealand troops needed to get to East Timor.

A decision on the upgrade of the Air Force Orions would have to be made soon, said Helen Clark.

"But we're not foreshadowing in this paper what happens to the air strike arm or what happens when the next frigate goes out of commission. They are not questions that demand our attention at this time."

Helen Clark did not expect any adverse reaction from Australia.

She discussed the review last week with Australian Defence Minister John Moore, and his response was "quite cheerful."

There had been "wild" commentaries on New Zealand's changing defence priorities from the likes of the Australian newspaper's Greg Sheridan, who called her the flakiest Prime Minister since David Lange.

"People way out on the fringe like him were peddling the line that basically New Zealand was phasing its armed forces down to being a bunch of namby-pamby peacekeepers who had never held an automatic rifle. It got wild.

"Now the Australians have seen the document and can see exactly where we are coming from."

The fact was that Australia also had to look at the depth versus breadth argument.

"They have got their money spread across a lot of capabilities at the moment and they are straining to carry it. They strain - we strain.

"I don't think there'll be any adverse comment from across the Tasman."

Our national defence – Herald stories

Participate in our online forum.