PM defensive over defence

12.00 pm

The Prime Minister is defending her defence policies following what she describes as "a partisan attack" by retired military chiefs in a letter they wrote to the editor of the Herald.

Helen Clark says the letter, which questions New Zealand's defence priorities, contains statements that are "out of place and out of time."

"The thrust of that framework, achieving adequate depth rather than inadequate breadth in defence provision, was debated over three years by the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee where it received broad support," the Prime Minister said.

The letter to the Herald was signed by two former secretaries of defence and five retired senior military officers, including Lieutenant-General Tony Birks and Vice-Admiral Sir Somerford Teagle, both of whom are former Chiefs of the Defence Force.

In their letter, the military chiefs say doubts have been expressed about the future of New Zealand's combat air capability and maritime surveillance. They say the defence strategy on which these views are based has never been explained.

"We are drifting into a greatly reduced defence capability by default," they say.

The letter asks the government "to publish its defence reviews in draft so that they can be considered and discussed in full by the people of New Zealand."

Ms Clark says that suggestion is "so preposterous it is breathtaking."

"What I find interesting is that groups like these specialise in attacking centre-left governments while sitting silent while National governments cut defence spending."

Ms Clark says any government faces huge challenges in crucial areas of economic rebuilding and modernisation, and social policy and service delivery. Defence is a priority, but cannot be elevated to the extent that it impacts adversely on all other essential areas of spending.