Govt considering selling military bases, leasing them back

Heather Roy said the sale of bases, such as Waiouru (pictured) was one of a range of options being considered. File photo / Wanganui Chronicle

The Government is considering selling military bases to the private sector and leasing them back, it said today.

Announcing the terms of reference for a review of the New Zealand Defence Force, Associate Defence Minister Heather Roy said both National and ACT supported public-private partnerships.

She said the sale of bases was "one of a range of options" being looked at.

"The Defence Force doesn't necessarily need to own everything. It could work in a partnership where somebody else owns the land or owns the buildings and they lease it back."

Defence House was a good example of a public-private partnership that was working well, Mrs Roy said.

Such partnerships will be looked at as part of the white paper review, the terms of reference of which were announced today.

The review will be led by Secretary of Defence John McKinnon with an independent panel consisting of Comptroller of Customs Martyn Dunne, Ernst & Young Chief Executive Rob McLeod and the retiring Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Murdoch.

It will include a public consultation phase.

- NZPA