Minister of Defence Judith Collins KC. Photo / Michael Craig
Minister of Defence Judith Collins KC. Photo / Michael Craig
The New Zealand Defence Force is “not able to fund” civilian flu vaccines, international travel for sports teams and leadership courses.
NZDF is facing a budget shortfall of about $130 million, meaning staff gym memberships are also being reviewed.
Vaccine experts and unionists are slamming the move to restrict free flu vaccines for non-uniform workers.
The New Zealand Defence Force is looking to scrap flu vaccines for civilian staff, international travel for sports teams, some support to Gallipoli and staff gym memberships in a bid to cut costs.
The force is facing a budget shortfall of $130 million this financial year.
Documents obtained by theHerald under the Official Information Act confirm the extent of planned cutbacks as a result.
Flu vaccinations for civilian staff are being cut with the NZDF acknowledging, in its own documents, that the move could lead to “impact on morale and possible increased staff absence in [the] 2025 flu season”.
Vaccine expert Helen Petousis-Harris said any move to cut something as fundamental as influenza vaccines is a “disappointing move”.
“Every year, while these vaccines have a lot of limitations, actually prevent tens of thousands of cases of influenza. In an organisation like the defence force, this is extremely important,” Petousis-Harris said.
She believed accessibility of vaccines made a “huge difference” in uptake.
A paper, titled “NZDF unfunded activities in financial year 2024/25″, reveals there will also be an overall reduction in travel due to spending restraints, which could see “less international engagement Defence-wide”.
There will be a reduction to “some minor administrative support to Gallipoli in 2025″. However the document makes it clear this will not impact “core NZDF ceremonial tasks as part of support to Gallipoli related events in 2025″.
Slides presented by the organisation’s budget executive committee, following the release of this year’s Budget, describes ceremonial funding and sporting events as “less immediate priorities” moving forward.
A number of staff leadership courses either face the axe or are planned to have reduced frequency, with the government department conceding this could see “some impact on morale and future leadership capability”.
Gym memberships for some workers are also set to be cancelled, with an admission this could impact staff morale and “fitness to deploy”.
Documents obtained by the Herald under the Official Information Act show a number of "unfunded activities" for the 2024/25 financial year.
Ceremonial activities will be cut back. Events could be canned, the Air Force band may not be present at graduations, with fewer parades, gun salutes, and smaller guards of honour all being considered to help meet the funding gap.
This comes with a warning that there could be “reputational risk around certain visiting nations”.
Further details have been withheld.
A spokesperson for the defence force said the options listed in the document had either “been finalised or is in the process of being finalised as an unfunded activity or initiative for this financial year.”
When asked for further clarification in early December by the Herald, NZDF stated savings were still being worked on as activities are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
“With specific regard to ceremonial activities, the NZDF no longer fires 21-gun or 19-gun salutes for welcome ceremonies for visiting heads of state or heads of government.
“It has also reduced the size of ceremonial guards for these visits and Government House Presentation of Credentials by approximately 30%.”
The defence force is reducing some support for specific ceremonial activities. Photo / Sergeant Vanessa Parker
Budget meeting notes briefing the Chief of Defence Force in June stated “significant austerity measures” needed to be implemented.
The notes stated the reduction in civilian staff would have a number of risks - risks which were redacted in the Official Information Act response.
NZDF’s 2024/25 budget was approved on June 11 by the agency’s executive committee, according to a further briefing.
The Chief of Defence Force was told NZDF would be effectively starting the 2024/25 financial year with $139m less available funding compared to the prior financial year.
A further document warns of the impacts of the budget, outlining potential gaps in search and rescue support and responses to potential significant events.
The NZDF's Budget talking points describe potential impacts of funding proposals.
The talking points say “NZDF has confirmed it can deliver the minimum amount of activity (flying hours, sea days and training) needed to maintain a safe basic level of essential operational readiness”.
Medical director at the Royal College of General Practitioners Dr Luke Bradford said the college was concerned “when the cuts in public service funding impacts on the health and safety and disease prevention of public servants”.
Public Service Association acting national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons slammed the plans as “desperate and stupid”.
“Flu vaccines are a win-win, cutting them will cost more in the long run with lost time due to sickness. They show in stark terms Government’s failure to fund our defence force,” the unionist said.
Green Party defence spokesman Teanau Tuiono called the cost savings “short-sighted”.
“The same month the defence minister told us she would ‘never leave defence to be defenceless’, she is doing just that by overseeing the kind of austerity measures that place defence force civilian staff under more strain,” he said.
The PSA has “sought the assistance” of the Employment Relations Authority over staff bargaining for a new collective agreement.
Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined NZME in 2022 and has a keen interest in city council decisions, public service agency reform and transport.
