Subs 'sneaking in'

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Foreign submarines are reported to be secretly entering New Zealand waters, a defence analyst says.

Geopolitical analyst Dr Paul G. Buchanan said he was aware of "informed speculation" that subs were travelling through New Zealand's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and even our territorial waters, the 12 nautical mile limit.

He understood some submarines had previously hid under commercial vessels to mask their radar signatures but newer stealthy submarines made this unnecessary.

Buchanan said New Zealand "cannot patrol its own maritime borders" and leaves Australian and United States ships to pick up the slack, so "even if we found [foreign submarines] we wouldn't say anything about it".

Opposition defence spokesman Phil Goff said he had no evidence that it was happening. But a navy source said a foreign naval ship recently entered New Zealand waters disguised as a trawler.

Another source, a Government employee who requested anonymity, said foreign naval ships were almost certainly in our EEZ, but that wasn't a problem if they were just sailing through. Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said he was confident our EEZ was well patrolled.

University of Auckland political scientist Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley said the secret entry of foreign naval ships into New Zealand waters would be "outrageous" if true. "If that's happening, someone should blow the whistle on this and make sure we're all aware of what's happening."