Ship could be made in NZ

The new multi-purpose ship proposed for the New Zealand Navy could be built completely in New Zealand.

That is according to two visiting representatives of Australian Defence Industries (ADI), former Australian naval officers Commodore Tim Cox and Commander Tony Parkin.

Commodore Cox, former Australian Navy director-general of maritime development, said his company had extensive experience in ship building. Its most recent project was construction of six new mine hunters for the Royal Australian Navy.

These were built on a "green fields" site in Newcastle and if the company won the contract to build a new multi-role ship for New Zealand, it could build it at almost any port, possibly Wellington, with manufacturers throughout New Zealand building components.

They met Defence Minister Mark Burton recently and have also spoken to National defence spokesman Max Bradford, as well as senior Navy staff involved in the maritime force review, due to be completed this month.

- NZPA