Military stocks secure but 'no system foolproof'

Phil Goff agreed Hawkins' collection was 'serious hardware'. Picture / Mark Mitchell.

Military ammunition stocks are secure but no system is foolproof, Defence Minister Phil Goff said today, after it was confirmed a weapons cache found in Christchurch came from military stock.

Kenneth Daniel Hawkins, 38, unemployed, was last week jailed for two years in the Christchurch District Court on six drugs and weapons charges, after 91 rounds of 5.6 millimetre ammunition used in rifles, pistol ammunition and a grenade were found in his home.

Elements from a Claymore mine, a detonator wire and a detonator - but not a landmine - were also discovered by police.

An investigation has been launched by the Defence Force into how military equipment was removed.

Mr Goff said it was always a concern if military equipment had been stolen from a base.

Military police were working with the New Zealand police to try to track down where and when the ammunition was stolen, he said.

While there are very strict procedures in place - in particular for grenades where the regulations were tightened about two years ago - no system was foolproof against deliberate dishonesty, Mr Goff told National Radio's Morning Report today.

"You cannot have a foolproof system where somebody dishonestly steals ammunition - particularly if they have access to the stores - if they have responsibility that becomes very hard...

"On the range itself there are strict procedures of issuing ammunition, returning ammunition. Soldiers are reminded each time it is an offence to remove ammunition or grenades from the range."

Mr Goff agreed the collection found was "serious hardware".

"Obviously ammunition can be bought commercially, grenades cannot be and the grenade would be the biggest concern."

The army used about five million rounds of ammunition and 15,000 grenades each year, he said.

Any person charged at the end of the investigation would face court-martial - if they were still in the military - a sentence, possibly imprisonment, and then dismissal from the military, he said.

If the person had left the military they would face charges and sentencing if found guilty under the Arms Act, he said.

As a result of information provided by Hawkins two properties had been searched - one in the North Island and one in Christchurch.

- NZPA